Universal Music has asked streaming platforms to block AI-composed songs—and they have a good reason. AI can’t create new music without plagiarizing old music.

Meanwhile Google has created an AI music-making technology, but hasn’t released it because of its tendency to claim authorship of already existing songs.

This situation highlights the persistent problem with this new technology. It gets things done, but in blatant disregard to prevailing standards of legality, honesty, and fairness. True believers in AI urge us to overlook this small matter—but it’s actually a huge flaw in the basic design of the system.