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Did Boy George remain the author of an AI-generated song?
Bandcamp removed Boy George’s “We Will Dance Again” under a policy barring music generated wholly or substantially by AI. Boy George had disclosed using AI but said he wrote the lyrics and melody, treated AI as a collaborator, and remained the song’s author. He challenged the platform’s ability to detect and consistently police AI music. Bandcamp cited its preexisting AI rule. Boy George also alleged that political objections to the song’s pro-Israel message prompted the removal; the available record does not establish that motive.
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Material at issue
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- Official statement
Permissible transcript excerpt
“Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp.”
Context note
First-party policy stating Bandcamp’s human-creativity rationale, substantial-generation restriction, impersonation rule, reporting process, and removal authority.
Bandcamp announced in January 2026 that music generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted and that it may remove music on suspicion of AI generation. Boy George disclosed AI assistance before the removal, first calling the song “AI for good” and later saying human collaborators would have interfered with his message. After removal, he emphasized that the lyrics and melody were his and attacked the platform’s ability and consistency in policing AI. Bandcamp told NME the track violated its AI rule. Boy George separately alleged political pressure because the song supports Israel. The available record does not establish political motive. The dispute is therefore about authorship, substantial generation, and enforcement—not a settled claim of political censorship.