Photo: Marte Lundby Rekaa / TT / code 200
“I am a user and a big supporter of AI tools. I have always believed that we must embrace new technology, not try to stop it – but there is one unwavering proviso: this must never come at the expense of copyright and human rights,” says Björn Ulvaeus, President of CISAC, in his commentary in the CISAC Global Collections report 2024.
/ 24/10/2024 / Willy MartinsenCongratulations to CISAC on the publication of yet another comprehensive and high-quality Global Collections Report. There is a lot of good news in these pages.
The income of CISAC member organisations is growing steadily. Collective management organisations are serving their members more effectively, especially in the digital market, and the global collective management system, despite the many challenges it faces, is proving its lasting value for the creators it represents.
Royalties help sustain creators' livelihoods and careers. They are, in effect, the measure of the cultural and economic value of the CISAC network. This value is entirely based on copyright. Now, more than ever, we must remember this as we look ahead.
We are on the threshold of a huge change. Artificial intelligence is shaking up our landscape, but its full impact is still unknown. Generative AI tools produce content that is based on, and sometimes risks replacing, the works of human creators.
They are routinely and systematically used to feed the training set of AI vendors, generating huge revenues for them. There is rarely transparency in this process, making it impossible for rights holders to identify the use of their works and, if necessary, enforce their rights.
I am a user and a big supporter of AI tools. I have always believed that we should embrace new technology, not try to stop it – but there is one unwavering caveat: this must never come at the expense of compromising copyrights and human rights.
Recent studies estimating what this could cost creators in lost revenue, from France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand, are a wake-up call to us all. I believe that a poorly regulated AI environment could wipe out the careers of many artists. It could be the next Paul McCartney or Taylor Swift.
The message to AI vendors is now clear: Play fair, and collaborate with us in a way that benefits us all. Respect the creators who are driving the AI revolution. Implement effective transparency mechanisms. Negotiate with, and obtain licenses from, rights holders. Share the enormous revenues from AI fairly with creators, and take proactive steps to comply with copyright laws and transparency requirements.
All over the world, there are legislative reviews where policymakers also need to hear these messages and implement them in legislation. From Hong Kong to Canada, from Brazil to Japan, the mantra must be: Do nothing that undermines creators’ rights. Instead, harness AI to work for the benefit of creators, consumers, culture, and the economy. It’s a win-win situation.
It is time for technology companies, creators, and policymakers to come together. Only a new level of collaboration, supported by legal instruments, will create a safe and fair AI environment. The rewards for our joint efforts, if successful, will be enormous.