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Breakthrough in EU negotiations:
TONO is optimistic after EU negotiations on a new law to regulate artificial intelligence have been concluded. “There is an understanding in the EU that companies developing artificial intelligence must be open about what kind of material they train their models on, and that they must respect copyright,” says Karl Vestli, CEO of TONO.
/ 13/12/2023 / Willy MartinsenThe EU announced on December 9 that a provisional political agreement has been reached on a forthcoming law to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). The news came after so-called trialogue negotiations between the EU Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission to establish a joint text for a draft law from December 6-9. The EU calls the result “historic”;
“Europe has positioned itself as a pioneer, understanding the importance of its role as a global standard-setter. This is, yes, I think, a historic day,” said EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, at the press conference.
Gesac, the TONO companies' spokesperson in Brussels, has been following the negotiations closely. Previously, copyright has not been part of the discussion in the work on "The AI Act". And although the final text after the trialogue negotiations is not yet ready, Gesac has announced to TONO, and in an official press release, that there is reason for sober optimism.
– TONO and our sister societies around the world welcome new technology, but have also been clear that it is crucial that AI companies both respect copyright and be open about what kind of content, including music and song lyrics, they train their models and technologies on. We are therefore pleased to hear that the trialogue negotiations on the new AI Act have been characterized by understanding for precisely these two central elements, says Karl Vestli, CEO of TONO.
The final wording, following the outcome of the trilogue negotiations, will now be fine-tuned in meetings over the coming weeks. The new EU AI Office has been given responsibility for further work on designing practical arrangements for implementation.
Gesac CEO, Véronique Desbrosses, is now concerned with what happens next in the process:
– It is important to prevent the possibility of circumventing the EU's protection measures. For AI regulation to be considered responsible, it is a prerequisite that clear requirements are established for both transparency and respect for EU copyright rules. To ensure that the principles that have been agreed have a real impact in practice and to ensure that rightholders can exercise their rights in a proper way, robust implementation is now crucial. Collective management organisations look forward to embracing this new market, creating value for both creators of music and lyrics and for the companies that use their works, while contributing to innovation and creation in Europe.
Read more:
«EU policymakers reach agreement on the AI Act” (press release, Gesac)
"Artificial intelligence act: Council and Parliament strike a deal on the first rules for AI in the world” (press release from the Council of the European Union)
«Europe agrees landmark AI regulation deal» (Reuters)
"EU AI Act trilogue agreement: Groundbreaking step forward towards responsible AI” (IFPI)
TONO was founded in 1928 and is a non-profit cooperative owned and managed by composers, lyricists and music publishers, and which manages the economic copyrights in their musical works. TONO grants permission for the use of protected music on radio, TV, the internet, concerts, cinema, etc. for a fee, and transfers its financial results each year to the rights holders of music that has been performed publicly. TONO has more than 40,000 members, but also works for millions of authors and music publishers from around the world. TONO gives music creators an economic basis to create new music, and collects and simplifies the licensing of protected music to music users. TONO had a turnover of NOK 864,6 million in 2022.
GESAC represents 32 European collective management organisations and their more than one million members from various artistic fields, including music, the audiovisual sector, visual arts, literature and drama, from all over Europe. Visit: www.authorsocieties.eu.
For more information:
Willy Martinsen, Communications Director at TONO, Willy.martinsen@tono.no, tel. +47,909 65 254