Recently, the creative industry in the UK has strongly opposed the plan proposed by the Labour government. This plan aims to provide copyright exemptions for artificial intelligence companies to help them train algorithms more easily. Various creative groups, including writers, publishers, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, and news media, have jointly issued a statement clearly opposing this proposal.
Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensed by Midjourney
According to the proposal, AI companies such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta could use published works to train their AI systems without the consent of copyright holders. In response, an organization called the "Creative Rights Alliance in AI" (Crac) firmly opposes this, arguing that existing copyright laws should be respected and enforced rather than undermined. This alliance includes several organizations such as the British Phonographic Industry, the Independent Musicians Association, the Film Producers Association, and the Writers' Guild, as well as media outlets like Mumsnet, The Guardian, Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Getty Images, Daily Mail Group, and Newsquest.
In response, the Secretary of State for Technology and Culture, Chris Bryant, stated in Parliament that the government's plan, following a 10-week consultation, aims to improve AI developers' access to content while allowing rights holders to control the use of their content. However, representatives from the creative industry pointed out that it should be the responsibility of generative AI developers to actively seek permission and negotiate licensing and payment matters with rights holders.
Recently, several well-known British creatives, including Paul McCartney and Kate Bush, have launched initiatives opposing AI companies' unauthorized use of creative works. Their joint petition has garnered support from over 37,500 people, emphasizing that such unauthorized use seriously threatens the livelihoods of creators and must be prohibited. Additionally, novelist Kate Moss has supported a related campaign aimed at strengthening existing copyright laws by amending data legislation, allowing creators to better negotiate fair compensation.
In a recent debate in the House of Lords, proponent Biban Kidron vividly compared the government's suggestion to letting shopkeepers "choose not to be stolen from," deeming this approach extremely unreasonable. Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the digital economy, Clement Jones, pointed out that the government's copyright exemption proposal stems from a misconception that the current copyright law is unclear. Science Minister Patrick Vallance stated that the government aims to support rights holders in maintaining control over the use of their content while seeking reasonable remuneration, all while promoting the development of world-leading AI models in the UK.
Key Points:
🌟 The creative industry unites to resist the government's AI copyright exemption plan, emphasizing that copyright laws must be respected.
🎨 Nearly 37,500 creatives have signed a petition demanding a ban on AI companies' unauthorized use of creative works.
📜 The government aims to protect rights holders while promoting the AI industry, but faces widespread skepticism.