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Europe investigates Big Tech’s use of generative AI 

The European Union launched a probe Thursday into Big Tech’s use of artificial intelligence and its handling of computer-generated deepfakes, ramping up scrutiny of a technology officials fear could disrupt elections. The inquiry is aimed at companies including Meta, Microsoft, Snap, TikTok and X, focusing on how the tech giants plan to manage the risks of generative artificial intelligence as they increasingly roll out consumer-facing AI tools.

Source: Europe investigates Big Tech’s use of generative AI | CNN Business

YouTube adds new AI-generated content labeling tool

Today, YouTube announced a way for creators to self-label when their videos contain AI-generated or synthetic material. The checkbox appears in the uploading and posting process, and creators are required to disclose “altered or synthetic” content that seems realistic. That includes things like making a real person say or do something they didn’t; altering footage of real events and places; or showing a “realistic-looking scene” that didn’t actually happen.

Source: YouTube adds new AI-generated content labeling tool

Deezer has deleted 26m ‘useless’ tracks since it launched artist-centric model with UMG

Deezer says that it had around 200 million pieces of content on the platform last year, which means that over 13% of this content has been deleted. “The intention is to declutter the platform, focus on tracks that are valuable to our users and increase the market share for all artists who create this music,” Folgueira told MBW. “The tracks that have been removed include noise, mono-track albums, fake artists and tracks that haven’t been listened to in the past 12 months.”

Source: Deezer has deleted 26m ‘useless’ tracks since it launched artist-centric model with Universal Music Group

HarbourView Equity Partners Scores $500 Million Debt Financing

HarbourView Equity Partners has secured $500 million in debt financing to fuel further song-rights acquisitions. KKR led the financing, which likewise drew participation from Kuvare Asset Management, per HarbourView. “We are grateful to KKR for working with us to deliver a flexible and innovative financing structure that will support HarbourView in expanding its reach,” HarbourView founder and head Sherrese Clarke Soares said.

Source: HarbourView Equity Partners Scores $500 Million Debt Financing

What will the EU’s proposed act to regulate AI mean for consumers?

The bill matters outside the EU because Brussels is an influential tech regulator, as shown by GDPR’s impact on the management of people’s data. The AI act could do the same. “Many other countries will be watching what happens in the EU following the adoption of the AI act. The EU approach will likely only be copied if it is shown to work,” Couneson added.

Source: What will the EU’s proposed act to regulate AI mean for consumers?

As EU AI Act passes, rightsholders urge ‘meaningful and effective’ enforcement of copyright

The EU law requires developers of “general purpose AI” (GPAI) models to keep track of and disclose what content is used in training. It further states that “any use of copyright protected content requires the authorization of the [rights holder] concerned, unless relevant copyright exceptions and limitations apply.” “Crucially, this appears to apply even if the training was carried out in another more lenient jurisdiction,” said Jonathan Coote, a music and AI lawyer at UK law firm Bray & Krais.

Source: As landmark AI Act passes EU parliament vote, rightsholders urge ‘meaningful and effective’ enforcement of copyright

‘No NFT-Specific Legislation’ Required, US PTO and Copyright Office Study Concludes

A comprehensive 112-page study conducted jointly by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the U.S. Copyright Office has determined that existing intellectual property laws are sufficient to address concerns regarding copyright and trademark infringement related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Source: “No NFT-Specific Legislation Required, Current Copyright Laws Sufficient, U.S. Government Study Finds”

The bill that could ban TikTok passes in the House 

The House voted on Wednesday in favor of a bill to require TikTok to sever its connection with parent company ByteDance or face a ban, moving the legislation forward with surprising speed. President Joe Biden has already said that he would support the legislation, but TikTok faces an uncertain fate as the bill heads to the Senate. The bill received bipartisan backing with a 352-65 vote.

Source: The bill that could ban TikTok passes in the House | TechCrunch

TikTok’s parent ByteDance has locked down AI-music patents in the US

Two separate research papers from ByteDance’s Speech, Audio & Music Intelligence (SAMI) team – both published in recent months – highlight the company’s extensive work in the field of music generation. The division is currently hiring for multiple roles  – including an AI Product Operation Manager in San Jose, who will be responsible for “the implementation of audio and music AI technologies in TikTok”.

Source: TikTok’s parent ByteDance has locked down AI-music patents in the US – as its researchers develop a model trained on 257,000 hours of songs

London Book Fair Attracts Hollywood Execs as Adaptation Craze Continues

This year’s Oscars were as much a celebration of books as they were cinema. Five of the 10 best picture nominees were based on books, and three of those – “Oppenheimer,” “Poor Things” and “The Zone of Interest” – took home the most statues overall. Which is why many of those partying in L.A. on Sunday night boarded planes across the Atlantic days later bound for the London Book Fair, in search of their next Oscar-contending project.

Source: London Book Fair Attracts Hollywood Producers and Execs as Adaptation Craze Continues: ‘IP Supercharges the Conversation’

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