Recently, thousands of artists, writers, and actors from various fields such as music, film, and literature have signed a declaration strongly opposing the use of their creative works by AI companies for training generative AI without authorization.
The declaration includes signatures from many well-known figures, such as Björn Ulvaeus from the Swedish band ABBA, all members of Radiohead, and Robert Smith of The Cure. After its release on October 22, the declaration garnered over 11,500 supporters within just a few hours.
The declaration is straightforward, emphasizing the serious threats posed by unauthorized use of creative works, especially to the livelihoods of creators. The movement was initiated by British composer Ed Newton-Rex, who has held senior positions in several AI technology and music companies. Newton-Rex founded Jedeck, an AI music generation company acquired by ByteDance, in 2010. He stated that while some industry organizations support the movement and help collect signatures, they do not provide financial support.
In recent years, with the development of artificial intelligence technology, creators and copyright holders have become increasingly concerned about their works being used for AI training. This year, the three major record companies have filed lawsuits against AI music companies, accusing them of widespread copyright infringement. Additionally, the UK government is about to launch consultations on how to regulate AI technology and is considering implementing a mechanism that allows AI companies to use copyrighted works without authorization, which has caused dissatisfaction among many creators.
Creators generally call on the government to adopt an "opt-in" scheme to ensure that copyright holders can control the use of their works, rather than an "opt-out" scheme. Currently, tech giants like Google and Microsoft are also urging the government to relax copyright laws for AI companies, allowing them to mine data for commercial purposes. This proposal was raised by the previous government in 2022 but was shelved due to strong opposition from creators.
In this battle between AI and creators, the importance of copyright is becoming increasingly evident. Many industry insiders say that protecting copyright is not only a respect for creators' labor but also crucial for the healthy development of the music and creative industries.
Key Points:
🌟 Thousands of artists have signed a declaration against AI using their works without authorization, emphasizing the threat to their livelihoods.
🎵 The movement was initiated by Ed Newton-Rex, who has worked in multiple AI and music companies, calling for the protection of creators' rights.
⚖️ Concerns within the industry about the government's proposed "opt-out" scheme, looking forward to an "opt-in" mechanism.
