UK MPs Call for Protection of Musicians’ Rights Over AI Developers
A cross-party committee of British Members of Parliament (MPs) has urged the government to prioritize the rights of musicians and creators over AI developers. The committee warns that exempting artificial intelligence (AI) developers from copyright protections when training their systems on existing works of music, literature, and art could harm the creative industries.
In a report released on August 30, the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee criticized the government’s original plan to allow free text and data mining by AI, stating that this move could reduce arts and cultural production to mere inputs for AI development. The report highlights a clear lack of understanding for the needs of the creative industries in the United Kingdom.
The parliamentary committee, composed of 11 members from across different political parties, emphasized the need for the government, currently led by pro-AI Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, to regain the trust of the creative industries. They called for improved protections for artists to safeguard their intellectual property rights, particularly in light of the rapid growth of generative AI.
Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the committee, emphasized the significance of the warnings from musicians, authors, and artists regarding the potential harm if intellectual property is not adequately protected in a world where AI’s influence continues to grow. She states that these warnings should prompt government officials to take notice.
The committee’s report recommends that all branches of government should gain a better understanding of the impact of AI and technology on the creative industries and be able to consistently defend their interests. This sentiment seems to be shared by others, as Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, CEO of UK Music, described the government’s current approach as granting a green light to music laundering.
In February 2023, Universal Music, a prominent music label, also expressed concerns about the potential widespread and lasting harm if AI were given unrestricted access to existing works of music and art. Such access could undermine the rights of creators.
Despite these concerns, the UK government announced on August 20 that it plans to invest $130 million in new computer chips to strengthen its AI Research Resource by mid-2024. This investment is part of Prime Minister Sunak’s broader initiative to establish the UK as a leading AI tech hub.
In conclusion, UK MPs are calling for protections to be put in place to prioritize musicians’ and creators’ rights over AI developers. The government has been urged to reconsider its plan to exempt AI developers from copyright protections when using existing works for training purposes. The aim is to ensure that the creative industries are not reduced to mere inputs for AI development, and that intellectual property rights are safeguarded in the face of AI advancements.
