ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus this week told UK lawmakers that the “AI revolution” could be “the best revolution that the creative industries have faced”, but only if AI companies embrace a “mutually-respecting partnership” with creators. And that requires politicians to resist the push by “profit-seeking tech companies” to weaken copyright law.
Ulvaeus, in his capacity as President of CISAC - the global grouping for songwriter collecting societies - spoke during an open discussion on copyright and AI chaired by Beeban Kidron, a member of the House Of Lords who has been critical of the UK government’s current approach to copyright and AI. Which, of course, includes the proposal to introduce a new copyright exception to benefit AI companies.
That copyright exception would mean that AI companies training generative AI models could make use of existing copyright protected works without getting permission from rightsholders, except where a rightsholder has formally opted out of the exception. Ulvaeus, CISAC and much of the music industry - not to mention the wider creative industries - all agree that’s a bad idea.
“I am convinced that the AI revolution can be not only the biggest, but also the best, revolution that the creative industries have faced”, Ulvaeus told MPs and Lords. “That is possible”, he added, “but only if there is a legitimate, mutually-respecting partnership between creators and AI operators”.
“Unfortunately, there is an alternative and, in my opinion, more dangerous view, driven by profit-seeking tech companies”, he went on. “That view favours a weaker rights framework and broad exceptions to copyright. This would take away from the creators their right to negotiate for the use of their works, and that would be a historic setback for both creators and the tech sector”.
The day before speaking in Parliament, Ulvaeus also met with technology minister Peter Kyle, who is leading on AI matters for the government.
Kyle’s team, along with the Intellectual Property Office and Department For Culture, Media & Sport, are currently working their way through the thousands of submissions that were made to the government’s recent consultation on copyright and AI.
Although DCMS has been leading the conversation with the creative industries on AI and the proposed new copyright exception, Kyle - as the key player on all this - has been criticised for being much closer to the tech sector. Though he is generally up for meeting pop stars, giving the likes of Ulvaeus the opportunity to ensure the creative industries’ position reaches his department as well as DCMS.
Back in Parliament, Ulvaeus summarised the three key things needed to ensure that AI and the creative industries can prosper together.
First, “AI training must be subject to clear transparency rules”. Second, “creators must be able to license their own works”. And finally “remuneration of those creators must be guaranteed”.
“We must remember that this is not about the future of big successful artists”, Ulvaeus added. “It’s about the vast majority of those creators whose royalties support their careers and sustain our culture. And it’s about the multi-trillion dollar creative sector that powers our economies, including the tech sector”.
“Upholding creators’ rights is not only about fairness”, he concluded, “it’s also about economic good sense. So bring on the AI revolution and one that stays true to creators’ rights”.