Olympic Ice Dancers Spark Copyright Debate by Using AI-Generated ’90s Rock in Rhythm Dance
Czech ice dancers Kateřina Mrázková and Daniel Mrázek debuted a rhythm dance at the Olympics that incorporated a partially AI-generated ’90s rock track followed by AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.” The International Skating Union (ISU) confirmed the music choice; no explicit ISU rule currently bans AI-generated music. The AI segment—prompted to emulate 1990s rock and bands like Bon Jovi—drew criticism after listeners found lyrics and phrases similar to existing songs (notably New Radicals and Bon Jovi). The duo previously used different AI-generated music earlier in the season that also prompted controversy and was revised after scrutiny. The incident spotlights technical and legal issues: generative audio models trained on copyrighted datasets can produce outputs that closely mimic source material, raising questions on originality, copyright infringement, and judging standards in artistic sports. Industry context: startups such as Suno and Udio make text-to-music widely accessible, while major labels have filed lawsuits against some AI companies over training-data use. Expected consequences include ISU/IOC policy reviews, possible disclosure or originality thresholds for AI content, and broader debates about AI’s role in creative sports. Key keywords: AI-generated music, figure skating, copyright, ISU, 1990s rock.
Neutral
This story is primarily cultural and regulatory rather than financial, so it should have limited direct impact on crypto markets: neutral. The incident highlights risks and regulatory scrutiny around AI-generated creative content, which could indirectly affect blockchain projects tied to digital intellectual property, NFTs, or AI-music platforms. Short-term market reaction in crypto is likely muted because no major crypto projects or tokens are directly implicated. Traders may see increased interest in projects offering provenance, copyright-recording, or attribution solutions (e.g., NFT metadata, proof-of-authorship services), which could cause modest, sector-specific flows. Long-term, if regulation around AI training data and copyright tightens, demand may rise for decentralized rights-management tools and chain-based licensing — a potential bullish signal for platforms focused on intellectual-property infrastructure. Comparable past events: legal actions by major labels against AI companies briefly moved sentiment in markets tied to music-tech and AI tokens, but effects were concentrated and short-lived. Overall market stability should remain unchanged; only niche tokens or services addressing AI copyright and provenance could see targeted interest.