How to Legally Copyright Your AI-Written or Co-Written Song

How to Write Songs and Music with AI the RIGHT Way

There is some good news and bad news when it comes to songs written in whole or in part by AI. First, the bad news ...

In the United States, you cannot copyright material generated entirely by AI. So if AI wrote all or even a lot of your lyrics and music, you'll never be able to register your AI song for copyright, which means you can't ever own it.

Now, the good news. There is a way to copyright AI-generated music and AI-assisted songs. US law states that you can legally copyright a co-written AI song, as long as a human makes a meaningful, creative contribution.

Bottom line: The only way to obtain U.S. copyright for AI music or lyrics is to have substantial human input. In other words, it must be a human co-write with the human doing most of the heavy lifting.

Let's dive deeper into what that means...

1. Understand the Human Authorship Requirement

According to the U.S. Copyright Office, copyright protects "original works of authorship" created by a human. That means:

• If you prompt an AI to generate lyrics or a melody and make no significant changes, you cannot claim copyright.
• If you revise, rewrite, or build upon AI-generated material in a creative, original way, your human contributions may qualify for copyright protection.

Think of AI like a co-writer who isn't legally recognized—you have to do enough of the writing to take credit.

2. Identify the AI's Role in the Songwriting Process

When registering your song with the U.S. Copyright Office, you must be transparent and accurate in your submissions. You may need to include:

• A description of what parts were generated by AI (e.g., initial melody or lyric idea).
• A clear statement of how you transformed, restructured, or replaced those parts with your human creativity.
• In the "Authors" section of the copyright form, do not list the AI—only name the human contributor(s).

If the song includes both AI and human-generated elements, only the human-authored content is protected.

3. Replace AI-Generated Vocals and Tracks

Even if your lyrics and melody are copyright-eligible, the recording itself must be 100% human-produced to avoid complications. Here's why:

• AI vocals and backing tracks may contain elements derived from copyrighted material in training datasets.
• Using real musicians and vocalists ensures your recording is original, clear, and eligible for licensing.

At Country Demo Studio, we specialize in replacing AI-generated tracks with studio-quality, human-performed tracks that meet the industry's legal and creative standards. Check out our AI-to-Human Song Service.

4. File the Correct Copyright Form

For most co-written works, including AI co-writing copyright, use Form PA (Performing Arts) to register the composition. Include:

• Title of the song.
• Full legal names of human contributors.
• Statement of authorship (e.g., lyrics, music, or both).
• A note explaining the AI's role (optional but recommended if relevant).

Optional but helpful: Keep documentation of your creative process (drafts, recordings, notes), especially if you heavily revised an AI draft. It helps prove human authorship if your rights are ever challenged. Read our guide on how to do this effectively: How to Document Your Song's Creation for Extra Proof of Authorship.

Don't Risk Losing Your Song—Fix It First

If your song started with AI, that's fine—but don't stop there. Revise it, polish it, and get real human performances recorded so it meets copyright standards.

Need help turning your AI idea into a copyrightable, pitch-ready demo?

👉 Country Demo Studio can take your AI-generated lyrics, melodies, or full tracks and transform them into industry-standard, human-created works. Scroll below to get started on your song demo today!

Back to AI & Music