The songs that the AI CEO provided to Smith originally had file names full of randomized numbers and letters such as “n_7a2b2d74-1621-4385-895d-b1e4af78d860.mp3,” the DOJ noted in its detailed press release.
When uploading them to streaming platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music, the man would then change the songs’ names to words like “Zygotes,” “Zygotic,” and “Zyme Bedewing,” whatever that is.
The artist naming convention also followed a somewhat similar pattern, with names ranging from the normal-sounding “Calvin Mann” to head-scratchers like “Calorie Event,” “Calms Scorching,” and “Calypso Xored.”
To manufacture streams for these fake songs, Smith allegedly used bots that stream the songs billions of times without any real person listening. As with similar schemes, the bots’ meaningless streams were ultimately converted to royalty paychecks for the people behind them.
Lawsuit, sure, but this shouldn’t be illegal
People who are not part of the wealthy elite stealing profits is illegal. Doesn’t matter what the method was.
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Because it’s only fraud if a normal person makes money from it, duh 🤪
People who are
notpart of the wealthy elite stealing profits isillegal.Plausible deniability is the answer.
This is the truth. He would have been fine if he was super rich
Bot listening is probably fraud.
Probably against the TOS, though, meaning the money paid was never owed, could get it into fraud
That’s still civil. I think this is just a case of fraud plain and simple.
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Just wanted to add something. Lying for Financial gain isn’t illegal it’s how you do it. Like people lie for Financial gain all the time.
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I would not just say unethical. You have to consider multiple facets and situations. While yes it may not be best. Sometimes they have to feed children or otherwise. To put it simply most things aren’t black and white.
According to the article, they’re going for multiple counts of money laundering and wire fraud with 20 years each.