U.S. Copyright Office Opens Music Streaming Fraud Inquiry, Probing Prevalence & ‘Potential Solutions’
The federal government body is seeking public comments about one of the music industry's biggest obstacles.
The U.S. Copyright Office has launched an investigation into an issue plaguing the music industry: streaming fraud. According to a Wednesday (Oct. 7) notice in the Federal Register, the office is seeking data and suggestions that could inform Congress about the problem, ongoing efforts to address it, and potential solutions. Public comments are due on Nov.
23. This inquiry stems from a letter sent by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) in May, urging the Copyright Office to examine the role of generative AI in facilitating streaming fraud. The office aims to gather information on the prevalence of different schemes, their economic impact, and how AI has contributed to the issue. In addition to seeking data, the Copyright Office also wants input on how to best combat this problem, including whether legislative solutions should be pursued.
Industry-wide initiatives, such as the Music Fights Fraud Alliance and the IFPI's Streaming Integrity Initiative, have been launched to tackle streaming fraud. However, just before the notice, Michael Smith was sentenced to federal prison for the first-ever U.S. streaming fraud prosecution, highlighting the severity of the problem.
This investigation is not the first time Rep. Fitzgerald has pushed the Copyright Office to address music industry concerns, as he previously led efforts into American PROs in 2025, though the inquiry ended without action.
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