US Copyright Office Opens Inquiry into Music Streaming Fraud

The US Copyright Office has launched an inquiry into fraudulent music streaming practices, seeking evidence on its impact on artist royalties and the need for enhanced safeguards. This action follows a congressional request to investigate the prevalence of artificial streams across digital platforms. The Office notes that such manipulation reduces the share of royalties available for genuine listeners. Methods identified include bot farms, click farms, playlist stuffing, and account hijacking.