View source for AI Law Wiki News for March 17, 2026

== BMG Rights Management (US) LLC ==

'''March 17, 2026 — BMG Rights Management Sues Anthropic Over Use of 493 Copyrighted Song Lyrics in AI Training'''

Music publisher '''BMG Rights Management (US) LLC''' filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against '''Anthropic PBC''' on March 17, 2026, alleging the AI company used 493 copyrighted musical compositions — including works by Bruno Mars, The Rolling Stones, and Louis Armstrong — to train its Claude AI models without authorization.<ref name="musicbiz">[https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bmg-sues-anthropic-alleging-ai-giants-380b-valuation-was-built-on-stolen-copyrighted-works/ Music Business Worldwide: BMG Sues Anthropic, Alleging AI Giant's "$380B Valuation Was Built On Stolen Copyrighted Works"]</ref>

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No. 5:26-cv-02334), asserts five causes of action: direct copyright infringement through AI training and output generation, direct infringement via torrenting pirated materials, contributory infringement, vicarious infringement, and removal of copyright management information under DMCA §1202.<ref name="justia">[https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/5:2026cv02334/466061 Justia Docket: BMG Rights Management v. Anthropic PBC]</ref>

BMG alleges that Anthropic obtained song lyrics through web scraping and by torrenting pirated books from shadow libraries like Library Genesis, with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei personally authorizing the use of torrenting to bypass licensing requirements. The complaint states that BMG sent a cease-and-desist letter in December 2025, which Anthropic ignored before the lawsuit was filed.<ref name="changeflow">[https://changeflow.com/govping/courts-legal/bmg-rights-management-sues-anthropic-pbc-over-copyright-2026-03-18 Changeflow: BMG Rights Management Sues Anthropic PBC Over Copyright]</ref>

BMG demands statutory damages up to $150,000 per infringed work (potentially totaling billions for 493 works), injunctive relief to halt the use of BMG works, and a jury trial. The publisher requested assignment to the judge handling the related Universal Music Publishing Group, Concord, and ABKCO cases against Anthropic.<ref name="dailyrecord">[https://thedailyrecord.com/2026/03/20/bmg-sues-anthropic-for-using-bruno-mars-rolling-stones-lyrics-in-ai-training/ The Daily Record: BMG Sues Anthropic for Using Bruno Mars, Rolling Stones Lyrics in AI Training]</ref>

The lawsuit follows [[News Anthropic-1.5B-Settlement-2026|Anthropic's proposed $1.5 billion settlement]] with authors and publishers in the parallel [[Bartz v Anthropic PBC]] class action. BMG proceeds independently as a music publisher, and its case extends beyond standard copyright claims with DMCA §1202 CMI removal allegations that could establish new precedent.<ref name="p4sc4l">[https://p4sc4l.substack.com/p/chicken-soup-for-the-soul-and-bmg P4sc4l Substack: Chicken Soup for the Soul and BMG]</ref>

'''See also:''' [[BMG Rights Management v Anthropic PBC]]

== References ==
<references />

''See individual article: [[News BMG-Sues-Anthropic-Copyright-Lyrics-2026|BMG Rights Management (US) LLC]]''

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== Colorado AI Act Working Group Revision ==

'''Colorado's AI Policy Working Group''' released a framework on '''March 17, 2026''', proposing a comprehensive rewrite of the '''Colorado AI Act''' (SB 24-205) that would shift from a risk-based regulatory model to a disclosure-driven approach focused on transparency and consumer notice.<ref name="lawweek">[https://www.lawweekcolorado.com/article/new-draft-poised-to-replace-colorado-ai-act/ Law Week Colorado, New Draft Poised to Replace Colorado AI Act]</ref><ref name="shb">[https://www.shb.com/intelligence/newsletters/pds/hansen-2026-revamped-colorado-ai-act-proposed Shook Hardy & Bacon, Revamped Colorado AI Act Proposed]</ref><ref name="coloradopolitics">[https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/03/17/artificial-intelligence-working-group-agrees-on-framework-to-replace-colorado-law/ Colorado Politics, AI Working Group Agrees on Framework to Replace Colorado Law]</ref>

== Background ==

Colorado's SB 24-205, signed in 2024, was the first comprehensive state AI law in the nation, originally scheduled to take effect February 1, 2026. SB 25B-004 (signed August 28, 2025) delayed implementation to '''June 30, 2026'''.<ref name="akingump">[https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/ai-law-and-regulation-tracker/colorado-postpones-implementation-of-colorado-ai-act-sb-24-205 Akin Gump, Colorado Postpones Implementation of Colorado AI Act]</ref> Earlier replacement attempt SB 25-318 was abandoned.<ref name="healthlaw">[https://www.healthlawadvisor.com/will-colorados-historic-ai-law-go-live-in-2026-its-fate-hangs-in-the-balance-in-2025 Health Law Advisor, Will Colorado's Historic AI Law Go Live in 2026?]</ref>

== Proposed Changes ==

The working group's framework, developed through negotiations involving businesses, hospitals, consumer groups, and tech advocates, proposes fundamental changes:<ref name="sw">[https://www.swlaw.com/publication/preparing-for-the-convergence-of-sb-24-205-hb-26-1139-and-hb-26-1195-three-new-colorado-laws-targeting-ai-in-healthcare/ Squire Patton Boggs, Preparing for the Convergence of Three New Colorado Laws Targeting AI in Healthcare]</ref>

=== Scope Narrowing ===
The proposal narrows coverage to automated tools that "materially influence" meaningful decisions, rather than all "high-risk AI" systems.<ref name="shb" />

=== Compliance Shift ===
Moves from pre-use compliance burdens to a framework emphasizing '''post-adverse decision disclosures''' and meaningful human review.<ref name="shb" />

=== Provisions Removed ===
The framework eliminates several key elements:
* '''Duty of Care''': The requirement to use "reasonable care" to protect consumers from algorithmic discrimination
* '''Impact Assessments''': Annual impact assessment obligations
* '''Risk Management Programs''': Requirements to maintain risk-management programs
* '''Algorithmic Discrimination Standards''': All references to algorithmic discrimination, leaving such issues to existing anti-discrimination laws<ref name="shb" /><ref name="lawweek" />

=== Provisions Retained ===
* Consumer notice requirements
* Adverse outcome disclosure obligations
* Human review provisions
* Records retention requirements<ref name="sw" />

=== Enhanced Accountability ===
Developer and deployer liability is clarified to establish clear responsibility, addressing concerns about vague enforcement mechanisms.<ref name="coloradopolitics" />

== Timeline and Legislative Outlook ==

* '''March 17, 2026''': Working group releases framework proposal<ref name="coloradopolitics" />
* '''May 13, 2026''': Colorado General Assembly session ends
* '''June 30, 2026''': Original SB 24-205 takes effect if no replacement is enacted<ref name="akingump" />
* '''January 1, 2027''': Proposed effective date if replacement passes, potentially creating a compliance gap<ref name="sw" />

As of late April 2026, the framework has not been formally introduced as a numbered bill, and with the legislative session ending May 13, time is running short for passage.<ref name="lawweek" />

== Separate Healthcare AI Bills ==

Separate 2026 healthcare AI bills (HB 26-1139 and HB 26-1195) address distinct issues and would proceed independently of the SB 24-205 replacement.<ref name="sw" />

== Significance ==

The Colorado AI Act revision is significant because it:
* Would gut the nation's first comprehensive state AI law before it takes effect
* Reflects a major shift from risk-based to disclosure-based AI regulation
* Could create a compliance gap between the June 30, 2026 SB 24-205 effective date and the January 1, 2027 proposed replacement date
* May set a precedent for other states considering similar rollbacks to AI regulation
* Is racing against a May 13 legislative adjournment deadline

== See Also ==

* [[News Nineteen-States-Pass-AI-Laws-2026|Nineteen States Pass New AI Laws]]
* [[News California-AI-Bills-Advance-to-Appropriations-2026|California AI Bills Advance to Appropriations]]
* [[Legislation]]

== References ==

<references />

''See individual article: [[News Colorado-AI-Act-Working-Group-Revision-2026|Colorado AI Act Working Group Revision]]''

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== Categories ==

[[Category:Cases Against Anthropic]]
[[Category:Colorado]]
[[Category:Copyright Litigation]]
[[Category:Music Industry]]
[[Category:Risk-Based Framework]]
[[Category:State Legislation]]
[[Category:Transparency]]