A coalition of nearly 60 organisations from music, art, publishing and film are backing a peer’s attempts to stop big tech firms ignoring copyright rules when training their AI systems.
Crossbench peer Baroness Kidron has tabled a series of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill which would make clear that ‘web-crawlers’ and other ‘data-gatherers’ should stick to UK copyright law.
Her moves come as the Government recently revealed plans to allow big tech companies to ignore these traditional rules when training AI models.
This would mean creative organisations would have to opt out if they do not want their work exploited by such firms.
The recently formed Creative Rights in AI Coalition, whose members include the Publishers Association, UK Music, the Motion Picture Association and DMG Media, which owns the Daily Mail, has given its support to Baroness Kidron.
Her amendments, which are backed by Labour peer Lord Stevenson of Balmacara and Lib Dem Lord Clement-Jones, are aimed to ‘counter the wide spread theft of IP by AI companies’ who use it as ‘raw material for their products’.
They would impose ‘transparency requirements’ that would let copyright holders ‘identify when and from where their work has been taken’, and make it clear that AI developers with links to the UK must obey British copyright law wherever copying takes place. Many developers copy British content on servers in California.
These are set to be voted on in the House of Lords tomorrow.
Sir Elton John yesterday warned that artificial intelligence will ‘dilute and threaten young artists’ earnings even further’ as he and Sir Paul McCartney criticised the proposed overhaul of copyright law.
Sir Elton, 77, told The Sunday Times that the ‘wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods’.
‘The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly,’ the Rocketman singer said. ‘It is the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity, and the country’s future success in the creative industries depends on it.’
Beatles singer Sir Paul told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: ‘The truth is, the money’s going somewhere… Somebody’s getting paid, so why shouldn’t it be the guy who sat down and wrote (The Beatles hit) Yesterday?”
The 82-year-old pleaded with the Government to change course, saying: ‘We’re the people, you’re the Government. You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job.
‘So you know, if you’re putting through a Bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.’
A statement from the coalition said: ‘We welcome Baroness Kidron’s identification of transparency – coupled with a strong copyright protection framework – as key issues in helping protect the UK’s creative economy.
‘These should be the Government’s priorities moving forward, as should encouraging generative AI developers to enter into voluntary agreements and obtain authorisation from rights holders for use of their works, which will spur UK-led innovation.
‘High quality data is crucial to generative AI innovation, and a failure to invest in it will inevitably inhibit growth in both the creative and tech sectors.’
There is huge controversy over the way tech firms use content to feed their AI systems, without paying or crediting these firms.
The Government’s recently announced consultation on the issue, revealed that minister’s plan to put the responsibility on rightsholders to opt out if they do not want their work used to train AI systems.
Ministers claim the proposals ‘lay the groundwork’ for rights-holders, who oppose tech firms exploiting their output, to strike licensing deals.
But one trade body, which represents news media organisations in the UK, has claimed the Government proposals will allow AI firms to ‘shirk their responsibilities’.