A coalition of hundreds of thousands of artists and creative professionals across Europe has penned an open letter to European Commission officials, urging them to address the ethical and legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) in the cultural sector.

The letter, addressed to Executive Vice-President‍ margrethe Vestager and Commissioner Elisa Ferreira, expresses ⁢both excitement and concern regarding the burgeoning field of AI. while acknowledging AI’s‍ potential⁣ to revolutionize creative industries, the coalition highlights the urgent need ⁣to⁤ safeguard the rights and livelihoods of ⁤artists.

“For our members, AI represents an extraordinary technological advancement with immense potential to enhance various aspects of our lives, including in ⁢the cultural and creative sectors,” the letter​ states.‌ “However, as AI is deployed more and more widely,‍ it is also important to acknowledge⁢ a darker ‌aspect of this‌ technology.”

The coalition raises concerns about⁣ the training data used by generative AI models, pointing out that these models are often trained on vast amounts of copyrighted material ‍and personal data scraped from the internet without permission or compensation for creators.

“All generative AI models in existence today have been trained ⁤in full opacity on enormous amounts of copyright-protected content and personal data,‌ scraped and copied from the internet without any authorisation nor any remuneration for the creators we represent.”

The letter further emphasizes the threat posed by AI-generated​ deep fakes and manipulated content, which can damage reputations, erode trust in digital ​facts, and undermine democratic processes.

The coalition calls on‌ the European Commission⁣ to ensure that ⁣the existing legal⁤ framework, including the Copyright Directive, ⁣the General Data Protection Regulation, and the AI Act, adequately addresses these challenges and‍ protects the rights of creators in the age of AI.

The letter concludes by expressing the coalition’s willingness to collaborate with the Commission to develop policies that foster innovation while safeguarding the interests of artists and ‍cultural professionals.

The rapid‍ rise of generative ⁢AI technology ​presents both exciting opportunities and complex challenges. ‍while these powerful tools hold immense potential for innovation, they also raise critical questions ⁤about the protection of creative works and the rights of artists. Currently, the legal framework surrounding the use of copyrighted material ⁣by generative AI models is inadequate, leaving creators vulnerable ​to exploitation.

“Copyright law has too often been misinterpreted, insufficiently applied, poorly ⁤enforced, or simply ignored by generative AI models,” states a joint declaration by leading European creative organizations. ⁢”In essence, it fails to adequately protect the rights of our creative communities and the value of their cultural‌ works.”

The declaration ​emphasizes the urgent⁤ need for a clear⁢ and robust legal framework that safeguards the interests of creators in the age of AI.It calls ⁣for a system that empowers authors and performers to control the use of their works by generative AI and ensures they recieve fair compensation when their creations are utilized.

The organizations highlight the shortcomings of the current EU Copyright framework, notably the 2019 exception for text and data mining (TDM). They argue ⁤that this exception, intended for research purposes, has been ⁤broadly interpreted to encompass the commercial use of copyrighted material by generative ‍AI, undermining the rights of creators.

“Although Article ‌4 was adopted years ⁤before ‍the ‍sudden rise of generative​ AI technologies and does⁢ not mention or define ‘Artificial⁣ Intelligence’ and ‘Generative AI,’ the European‍ Commission ​appears to have retrospectively interpreted this exception broadly and without democratic overview to cover the systematic and extensive use of creators’ protected⁣ works and performances without any authorization,” the declaration asserts.

As AI-generated content increasingly enters the market, competing directly with human creations, the need for a fair and equitable legal framework becomes even​ more pressing. Creators​ are calling on EU policymakers to prioritize the protection ‍of their rights and ensure ⁢that the benefits‌ of AI are shared fairly.

“We urge you to support a clearer ​and more efficient legal framework preserving the rights of creators and the integrity of their works,” the declaration concludes. “As ‍representatives of the creative community in Europe, here is where we stand on this existential issue.”

The European Authors’ Society‌ (GESAC) has issued⁢ a stark warning about the unchecked use of copyrighted material by generative AI developers. In a strongly worded statement, GESAC criticizes the current legal ⁣framework, arguing that it fails to protect the rights of creators ‌in the face of rapidly advancing AI technology.

GESAC highlights the “text and data mining” (TDM) exception,a provision intended to balance the rights ⁣of creators and ⁢users of copyrighted⁤ material. However, the ⁤association argues that generative AI developers are exploiting this exception without proper safeguards, essentially “putting the cart before the horse” by using copyrighted works⁣ without obtaining consent from creators.

“none of our members has ​been able to reserve their rights efficiently, and there is still significant uncertainty regarding the opt-out and how authors and performers can exercise it. As a result, generative⁢ AI providers have put the cart before ⁢the horse ⁢by using this exception without even giving a chance to creators to provide their consent and exercise their right of reservation.”

GESAC further emphasizes the ⁢lack of clarity surrounding the use of ⁢copyrighted material by generative AI. Creators ‌are frequently‌ enough left in the dark about whether their works have been used, making it arduous to take legal action. This opacity, coupled with the widespread availability of generative AI ‌systems and the rise of deepfakes,‍ is having a detrimental impact on creative industries.

GESAC calls for a critical‍ reassessment of the current legal framework, urging policymakers to⁤ prioritize consent, transparency, and fair remuneration for creators ‍in the growth of AI strategies for the cultural and creative sectors. The organization stresses the need⁢ for an‍ ethical and responsible AI ecosystem that respects the rights of those who create ⁤the content ​upon which these ⁢technologies rely.

A study commissioned by the ‍German Authors’ Rights Initiative supports GESAC’s position, concluding that the ‍TDM exception does not apply to generative AI.​ this finding further underscores the urgent need for legislative action to protect the rights of creators in the age of AI.

¹ an critically important study commissioned by the German‌ Authors’ ‍Rights Initiative states‍ that the TDM-exception ‍doesn’t apply to genai: summary

The European Union’s AI Act,while a step in the right direction,falls short ‌of providing a complete ⁣solution for the cultural and creative industries in the face of rapidly advancing ​artificial intelligence. this is the message from a coalition of prominent European organizations representing authors, performers, and visual artists.

The organizations, while welcoming the ⁤act’s provisions requiring transparency⁤ in the use of copyrighted material for training AI models, stress the need for a more robust and forward-looking strategy. “If properly enforced, the AI Act will be a‌ step in the right direction but will not⁣ be sufficient for a meaningful AI strategy for the cultural and creative industries,” they state.

“Our organizations⁢ welcomed the AI Act, in particular the requirement for providers of general-purpose​ AI models to comply ⁢with EU copyright law and publish⁤ sufficiently detailed information about the data used,” the statement reads. “We also strongly‍ support the strengthening of transparency obligations around deep fakes and stress the importance of developing technical tools that can reliably and accurately differentiate authentic content from AI-generated, or manipulated, content.”

The organizations urge the EU to prioritize transparency in the implementation of the AI Act, ​ensuring that the AI office‍ places it at‍ the heart of its Code ⁤of Practise and template summary for AI providers. They⁣ argue that without clear and detailed transparency obligations, creators will be unable to‍ protect their rights and ensure they are fairly compensated for the use of their ⁢work in AI training.

“Since the tech and AI⁢ industries have already ⁤used our members’ ⁣works without⁤ any authorisation, it is no surprise that ‌they are so adamant about the protection of trade⁣ secrets,” the statement continues. “In our view, all policy makers must clearly distinguish⁣ between legitimate ⁣trade secrets – where the input has been legally acquired – and the secretive use of ⁣copyrighted works to train ⁢AI models without any​ authorisation. A recipe may remain secret but‍ that does not justify stealing⁤ the ingredients.”

The organizations⁢ emphasize that the​ AI Act, even with robust implementation, is merely a‍ temporary solution. They call for a dedicated AI strategy ⁢for‌ the cultural and creative industries, one that ensures informed consent and fair remuneration ‌for ⁢authors and performers ⁤in the age of AI.

In a ‌strongly worded statement, leading European⁢ creative industry organizations are calling for urgent action from policymakers to address the disruptive impact ⁢of generative AI on the cultural‌ sector.The groups argue that the current EU legal framework‌ is inadequate, failing to protect creators and ​their work⁢ in the⁢ face of rapidly advancing AI technology.

“In a context where⁤ the current EU legal framework is unenforced and unbalanced, does ‍not protect ​our creative community, and ignores the specificities of the cultural and creative‌ sectors, we call on you to directly address the profound ⁤disruption caused by the uptake of generative AI in these​ sectors, as well as its impact on creation and ⁣cultural diversity,” ‌the statement reads.

The organizations, which include the European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations (CEATL), the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA), and⁢ the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), are ⁣demanding ⁣a comprehensive and democratic debate to establish ​a clear‌ legal framework for AI in the ​creative industries. They emphasize⁢ the need to protect the rights‍ and integrity of creators’‍ works and personal data.

“All future initiatives⁢ related to the use of AI for the cultural and creative industries‌ must be based ‌on a comprehensive and democratic‌ debate leading⁤ to a clear⁣ legal framework preserving the rights and the integrity of creators’ works and personal data,” the statement continues. “It should address the many unresolved issues related to the TDM exception and clarify the terms of its extension to generative ​AI.”

The groups highlight the unique challenges posed by AI models that utilize existing creative works. “Using works and performances in the context of AI models is radically different from other forms of exploitation.⁤ As the integrity of their⁣ work and their personal⁢ reputation may well be jeopardized by generative AI, authors and performers should retain the ⁢ability to consent or refuse such ‍use of their work,” they argue.

Recognizing the value derived⁤ from human creativity in AI-generated content, the organizations call for “effective and enforceable mechanisms to remunerate the creative community for the AI-generated output.” However,⁤ they ‌caution against​ mechanisms that normalize or encourage‌ the​ replacement ‌of human work by AI.

“we urge you to⁤ place the principles of⁢ transparency, consent and remuneration of authors and performers at the heart of all future initiatives ⁢for an ethical and fair ⁤use of ‌AI.‌ We also look ‍forward to collaborating with you ‍and your teams to develop a⁣ framework advancing AI technologies in ways that serve and enhance human creativity, whilst continuing to promote original content and protecting ⁣the hundreds of thousands of authors and performers we represent,” the⁣ statement concludes.

The​ call ⁢to action underscores the growing concerns within the creative community about the potential impact of AI on their livelihoods and the future ⁢of cultural expression.

A coalition of prominent European arts and media organizations has issued a⁢ joint statement expressing deep concern over the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on creative industries. The group, which includes the European ​Guild for Artificial Intelligence Regulation​ (EGAIR), the European Writers’ Council (EWC), and the Federation of European Screen Directors (FERA), among others, warns ‌that unchecked AI development could threaten ⁣the livelihoods and creative autonomy of artists.

“We believe⁣ that AI presents⁢ both opportunities and risks for the creative sector,” the statement reads. “While AI ​can‍ be⁢ a powerful tool for innovation, it is crucial to ensure ​that its development⁤ and deployment are guided⁣ by ethical principles that protect the rights and interests ​of creators.”

the organizations are ‍particularly concerned about the‍ potential for AI to be used ⁢to generate creative content without proper attribution or compensation to human artists. They also raise⁢ concerns about the ‌potential for AI to be used‌ to automate creative tasks, leading to job losses in the sector.

“We call on policymakers and industry leaders to work together to develop a framework for the ethical ⁣and responsible use of AI​ in the creative industries,” the⁢ statement concludes. “This framework should ensure that AI is used‌ to augment human creativity, not​ replace it.”

The statement comes amid growing debate about the impact of AI on various sectors, including the arts. As AI technology continues to advance, it is becoming increasingly ⁤capable of generating creative content, such as music, writing, and visual art. This has ⁢raised concerns among some artists and industry professionals who fear that AI could devalue their work and threaten their livelihoods.

The coalition’s call for a framework for ethical AI use in the‌ creative industries reflects a broader movement to ensure that AI development benefits society as a‍ whole. As AI becomes ⁣more integrated into⁢ our lives,it is essential to ⁢have clear guidelines and regulations in​ place to ensure that it is used responsibly​ and ethically.