Headlines

An author has questions on his publisher’s AI deal (opinion)

Informa, the academic publishing powerhouse and parent company of Routledge and Taylor & Francis, recently announced a deal with Microsoft that will feed a massive body of scholarly work to a generative AI system. If Informa’s decision portends a wave of similar deals between scholarly publishers and generative AI companies, the troubling precedent this sets could result in significant changes to the nature of academic publishing.

Source: An author has questions on his publisher’s AI deal (opinion)

Court Rules Against Photographer Who Sued AI Dataset for Copyright Theft

A German court has ruled against a photographer who sued the AI image dataset company LAION in a case that could have big implications. The dispute between the two parties wound up in the Hamburg Regional Court where on Friday the court ruled that LAION benefited from the exception of copyright infringement under Section 60(d) of Germany copyright law. A proviso that allows privileged research organizations to reproduce works even if granted an opt-out by the author of the work,

Source: Court Rules Against Photographer Who Sued AI Dataset for Copyright Theft

European Commission appoints 13 experts to draft AI Code 

The European Commission has today announced the list of independent experts from the EU, US and Canada tasked to lead work on drafting a Code of Practice on General Purpose Artificial Intelligence, which includes language models such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini. The EU’s AI Act, which entered into force last month – provides stringent rules for providers of GPAI models, which will become effective in August 2025.

Source: European Commission appoints 13 experts to draft AI Code 

YouTube strikes deal with SESAC following licensing dispute

YouTube said in a statement published via social media over the weekend its deal with SESAC had “expired without an agreement on renewal conditions despite our best efforts”. That dispute has now been resolved. SESAC said today (September 30) that it has struck a deal with YouTube “to equitably compensate SESAC’s songwriters and publishers for the use of their music”.

Source: YouTube strikes deal with SESAC, begins reinstating music videos by Adele, Kendrick Lamar and more following licensing dispute

Rethinking Photography in the Age of AI 

After Instagram instituted a label on images to clearly identify those that were AI-generated, many photographers stood up in arms, angry that it also included images retouched using AI. “It is not the same,” they say. “Retouching,” they say, “is not generating, and our images should not be classified as such.” Photographers are angry that their images carry this label because it implies their images are fake and untrustworthy.

Source: Rethinking Photography in the Age of AI – Kaptur

California Forces a Rethink of A.I. Regulation

The most sweeping effort yet to regulate artificial intelligence, a California bill that could have informed laws around the world, is going back to the drawing board. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the legislation, known as S.B. 1047 — under strong pressure from Silicon Valley giants. Now, governments must again try to figure out the best way to rein in the fast-growing technology’s excesses, while letting innovation flourish.

Source: California Forces a Rethink of A.I. Regulation

Major music companies, urging Canada’s CRTC not to regulate streaming as if it were radio

Industry groups representing major record companies and streaming platforms have a message for Canada’s telecom regulator: streaming is not radio, and shouldn’t be regulated as if it were. The groups were responding to the CRTC’s recent series of workshops on implementing new rules governing streaming services. Under those rules, streaming services that are not Canadian-owned are required to pay 5% of revenue into funds that subsidize Canadian content and creators.

Source: Major music companies send letter to Canada’s CRTC, urging it not to regulate streaming as if it were radio

Hipgnosis name and branding set to change to reflect new structure under Blackstone

MBW understands that Hipgnosis plans to reflect the unification of the management company and Hipgnosis’ two formerly separate portfolios (Hipgnosis Songs Fund and Hipgnosis Songs Assets) under a single, new name. Internal discussions on the matter are well underway, we’re told, with an announcement on a new name expected around the turn of the year. “The existing names no longer accurately reflects the structure of the business.”

Source: The elephant is leaving the building: Hipgnosis name and branding set to change to reflect new structure under Blackstone

Startup Runway Giving Filmmakers up to $1 Million If They Use AI to Make Their Movies 

Runway, the generative AI company that recently inked a first-of-its-kind deal with Lionsgate, will dole out grants of up to $1 million to filmmakers working on AI-powered projects. Runway is launching The Hundred Film Fund, an initiative to help produce and fund as many as 100 short films and feature-length movies that use generative AI technology to tell their stories.

Source: AI Startup Runway Says It’s Giving Filmmakers up to $1 Million If They Use Artificial Intelligence to Make Their Movies (EXCLUSIVE)

OpenAI Is Growing Fast and Burning Through Piles of Money

OpenAI’s monthly revenue hit $300 million in August, up 1,700 percent since the beginning of 2023, and the company expects about $3.7 billion in annual sales this year, according to financial documents reviewed by The New York Times. But it expects to lose roughly $5 billion this year after paying for costs related to running its services and other expenses according to an analysis by a financial professional who has also reviewed the documents.

Source: OpenAI Is Growing Fast and Burning Through Piles of Money

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