One of the most divisive aspects of the law concerns transparency in the crucial upstream phase, requiring AI companies to notify rightsholders when their works are being used as training data for the algorithms of their generative AI systems. That notification obligation — the implementation of which is still up in the air but is due to kick in on Aug. 2 — is the crux of the battle for rightsholders seeking compensation and new revenue streams.
Policy
UK ministers consider changing AI plans to protect creative industries
Ministers are planning to offer key concessions to their plans to make it easier for artificial intelligence companies to use copyright-protected work, in a partial climbdown after weeks of lobbying from some of the world’s most famous artists. Sources have told the Guardian that ministers have accepted the need to protect British creative industries from the plans, which would otherwise have made their work available for access by AI companies unless they deliberately opted out.
Source: UK ministers consider changing AI plans to protect creative industries
UK newspapers blanket their covers to protest loss of AI protections
Creative and media industries have teamed up on this “Make It Fair” initiative, calling for readers to help protect British creative industries. The campaign was created to fight government proposals that would allow artificial intelligence companies to train their models on copyright-protected work without permission.
Source: UK newspapers blanket their covers to protest loss of AI protections
Major record company bosses back campaign against UK AI copyright proposal
Universal Music Group Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge, Sony Music Group Chairman Rob Stringer, and Warner Music Group CEO Robert Kynclhave thrown their weight behind a Daily Mail campaign urging the government to protect creators’ rights. “The UK stands at a decisive crossroads because what is ‘Made in Britain’ and exported to the world is not limited to physical products, but also intellectual property and copyright including music, visual art, life sciences and more,” said Grainge.
Source: Major record company bosses back campaign against UK AI copyright proposal
Meta and Google Slam EU on AI Regulation
Top executives from Meta Platforms and Alphabet have amped up the heat on the European Union (EU) over its perceived failure to foster innovation in artificial intelligence. In particular, the EU’s AI Act, which tightly controls the type and nature of AI systems allowed in the bloc, was seen as going “too far” by META director of public policy Chris Yiu. “The net result of all of that is that products get delayed or get watered down and European citizens and consumers suffer.”
Europe set to simplify corporate regulation, EU’s digital chief says
The European Commission will propose at least five sets of legislation this year to spur investment and simplify regulation on companies, including in the field of artificial intelligence, the European Union’s digital chief said on Thursday. The executive Commission is under pressure from EU member countries such as France to ease regulations, and also faces challenges from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.Source: Europe set to simplify corporate regulation, EU’s digital chief says
EU Withdraws AI Liability Proposal; US Seeks Comments on AI Action Plan
The EU is withdrawing proposed regulations for handling victim’s claims of harm caused by AI — but it faces internal opposition. The commission’s change of heart was blasted by Axel Voss, a German member of the European Parliament. “Why the sudden U-turn? The answer likely lies in pressure from industry lobbyists who view any liability rules as an existential threat to their business models,” Voss told the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
Source: AI Regulations: EU Withdraws AI Liability Proposal; US Seeks Comments on AI Action Plan | PYMNTS.com
EU accused of leaving ‘devastating’ copyright loophole in AI Act
An architect of EU copyright law has said legislation is needed to protect writers, musicians and creatives left exposed by an “irresponsible” legal gap in the bloc’s Artificial Intelligence Act. Axel Voss, a German centre-right member of the European parliament, who played a key role in writing the EU’s 2019 copyright directive, said that law was not conceived to deal with generative AI models.
Source: EU accused of leaving ‘devastating’ copyright loophole in AI Act
Labor moving too slowly on making big tech pay Australian media for news, Coalition and Greens say
The design of the new initiative is yet to be determined, and a consultation paper on the code was due to be released early this year. But the threat of retaliatory tariffs from the US have fuelled concerns the news bargaining incentive, announced in December, could be delayed.
Source: Labor moving too slowly on making big tech pay Australian media for news, Coalition and Greens say
What the US’ first major AI copyright ruling might mean for IP law
A U.S. federal judge last week handed down a summary judgment in a case brought by tech conglomerate Thomson Reuters against legal tech firm Ross Intelligence. The judge found that Ross’ use of Reuters’ content to train its AI legal research platform infringed on Reuters’ intellectual property. The outcome could have implications for the more than 39 copyright-related AI lawsuits currently working their way through U.S. courthouses.
Source: What the US’ first major AI copyright ruling might mean for IP law | TechCrunch