SAG-AFTRA Wraps a Month of Studio Talks With No Deal, Will Resume in June

The two sides have addressed an array of subjects, but the thorniest one — as was the case during the 2023 strike — may be artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA is looking to assert some control over the use of “synthetic performers” — digital avatars that bear no resemblance to a real-life actor. [R]eal-life actors gain little or nothing from their use, and also have scant leverage to stop studios from using their performances to train AI systems.

Source: SAG-AFTRA Wraps a Month of Studio Talks With No Deal, Will Resume in June

Quincy Jones estate sells catalog and ancillary rights to HarbourView

HarbourView said that the deal includes Jones’ recorded music and publishing assets, as well as other ancillary rights, including his participation in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. As part of the transaction, HarbourView notes that it will “work in close partnership with the Quincy Jones Estate on go-forward initiatives tied to Jones’ name, image, and likeness”. HarbourView said that “additional announcements and tributes will follow in the coming weeks 

Source: Quincy Jones estate sells catalog and ancillary rights to HarbourView

AI Registry to Protect Athlete Likenesses and Digital IP Launched

Callandor Group has unveiled what it describes as the first dedicated registry for sports intellectual property in the AI era: a platform designed to give athletes and sports organizations the tools to manage, protect and profit from their digital identities, which the company says are increasingly being absorbed into AI systems without compensation or consent.

Source: AI Registry to Protect Athlete Likenesses and Digital IP Launched

ByteDance suspends launch of video AI model after copyright disputes (Report)

Source: ByteDance suspends launch of video AI model after copyright disputes (Report)

TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, has put on hold the global launch of its latest video-generation model, Seedance ​2.0, after a series of copyright disputes with major Hollywood studios ‌and streaming platforms, The Information reported on Saturday, citing two people with direct knowledge of the situation. ByteDance said last month it would take steps to prevent ​the unauthorized use of intellectual property on its AI video generator ⁠Seedance 2.0, following threats of legal action from U.S. studios, including Disney

‘An Important Step’: European Parliament Adopts Report on Copyright and Generative AI

On Tuesday, March 10, Parliament passed its resolution on “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges” with an overwhelming majority of 460 votes to 71, and with 88 abstentions. The report calls for the EU and its 27 member states to focus on the crucial issues of how AI and tech companies engage with copyright-protected works and explores a licensing system as a solution.

Source: ‘An Important Step’: European Parliament Adopts Report on Copyright and Generative AI

WGA to Seek Payment for AI Training on Scripts as Talks With Studios Set to Begin

John August, co-chair of the WGA Negotiating Committee, said Tuesday that the union will seek to affirm the principle that writers should be paid for derivative uses of their work, including AI training. In the last go-round, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers refused to accept any limitations on the use of scripts — which they own — to train AI models.

Source: WGA to Seek Payment for AI Training on Scripts as Talks With Studios Set to Begin

UK government weighs copyright ‘commercial research exception’ for AI Use

According to a report in The Times on Friday (March 6), a “commercial research exception” is one of a number of proposals officials are preparing ahead of a parliamentary statement on copyright reform, due on March 18. Under the proposal, AI developers would be free to use copyrighted material for training purposes without obtaining permission, but would need to secure licences from rights holders before bringing any resulting products to market.

Source: UK government weighs copyright ‘commercial research exception’ for AI Use

Is Suno the Music Industry’s Biggest Nightmare — or Greatest Hope?

Many have compared Suno, and the rise of generative AI music in general, to Napster’s launch at the turn of the century, which upended album sales and led to the darkest financial decade in recorded-music history. Suno could disrupt music consumption, like Napster and Spotify once did. But it’s also doing something different: disrupting the sacred act of creation itself.

Source: Is Suno the Music Industry’s Biggest Nightmare — or Greatest Hope?

Indie Artist Coalition Files Major Lawsuit Against Google Over AI Copyright Theft

A coalition of independent musicians from across the United States has filed a lawsuit against tech giant Google over more than just allegations that the company’s AI models rely on stealing and copying original works. In fact, this lawsuit could be the “broadest, most comprehensive attack on the business model of AI-generated music.”

Source: Indie Artist Coalition Files Major Lawsuit Against Google Over AI Copyright Theft

YouTube Adds Tool to Help Public Figures Report Fake Videos

YouTube is adding a detection tool for government officials, candidates and journalists to catch and report videos that display their likeness without permission. The pilot program is arriving as social media companies and a patchwork of new laws start to address the problem of these so-called deepfakes. But the companies have largely relied on users to report fake material.

Source: YouTube Adds Tool to Help Public Figures Report Fake Videos

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