US Copyright Office Initiates Inquiry into Music Streaming Fraud

The US Copyright Office has launched an inquiry into music streaming fraud, inviting public input on its impact on royalties and the necessity for improved safeguards. This action follows the recent sentencing of Michael Smith to 18 months in prison for an AI-assisted scheme that generated over $8 million in fraudulent royalties. The Notice of Inquiry was officially published on October 7, 2026, signaling a significant step towards addressing this issue.