This isn't just a legal victory for labels; it’s a systemic problem. These settlements allow AI companies to continue profiting from past infringement while the independent creators—often the backbone of originality—remain vulnerable.
"The problem is that these settlements encourage companies to use copyrighted material without consent, counting on the fact that they can simply pay a 'settlement fee' once they’ve already become indispensable."
As fair use laws expand, there is a real risk that creative work can be copied without penalty as long as the AI company is "too big to sue."