While the company says it hasn’t used user-created content for model training, it doesn’t rule out the possibility that it will in the future. A spokesperson for SoundCloud, provided the following statement. “SoundCloud has never used artist content to train AI models, nor do we develop AI tools or allow third parties to scrape or use SoundCloud content from our platform for AI training purposes.”
Source: SoundCloud says it isn’t using your music to train generative AI tools
When asked about AI narration, consumers often claim they prefer a human voice yet are increasingly unable to distinguish AI-generated narration from that of a real person. This aversion feels like it speaks to something else, an almost innate mistrust, a sense that something ineffable might be lost, even if we cannot verbalise what that is.
A coalition of entertainment unions, joined by the Motion Picture Association, urged President Trump on Monday to support tax deductions that benefit the entertainment industry. The unions organized a joint letter to Trump, which was also signed by two of Trump’s three “special ambassadors” to the industry, Jon Voight and Sylvester Stallone.
Source: Unions and MPA Urge Trump to Back Hollywood Tax Deductions
Jonathan Barnett, professor at the University of Southern California’s Gould School of Law and author of The Big Steal: Ideology, Interest, and the Undoing of Intellectual Property, warned that publishers and other IP businesses need to learn from the lessons of the past—namely, the losses they suffered when Google successfully bet that it could scrape all content available on the internet for free in developing Google Books, a move that a court determined was protected by the fair use doctrine.
A day after the US Copyright Office dropped a bombshell pre-publication report challenging artificial intelligence firms’ argument that all AI training should be considered fair use, the Trump administration fired the head of the Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter—sparking speculation that the controversial report hastened her removal. Tensions have apparently only escalated since.
Source: Copyright Office head fired after reporting AI training isn’t always fair use
President Trump’s initial proposal to impose a 100% tariff on foreign-produced films was met with bafflement and horror in Hollywood. But for lawmakers who represent film industry workers, it looked like an opportunity. “I would like to refocus the conversation around a national film tax credit,” said Rep. Laura Friedman, a Democrat from Burbank. “We know this works.”
Source: Could Trump’s Movie Tariff Add Momentum for Federal Filming Incentive?
The executives argued on the call that many films are still shot in the U.S, including in such production hotspots as Georgia, New Jersey, and New York that offer generous production incentives, according to three people with knowledge of the discussion. They hope that they can convince the president that the problem of runaway production mostly impacts the state of California, which does not offer the same level of subsidies as other states.
Source: Hollywood Studios Strategize on How to Handle Trump Tariff Threats at MPA Special Meeting
On Monday (May 12), the House of Lords voted 272 to 125 in favor of an amendment to the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill that would require AI companies to disclose which copyrighted materials they used in training their systems. The amendment, which was introduced by crossbench peer Baroness Beeban Kidron, passed despite government opposition. It marks the second time the Lords have supported increased transparency measures in the Bill.
Source: UK government faces second House of Lords defeat over AI copyright rules
Despite all the glamour that makes Cannes such a singular experience, there’s palpable anxiety as the festival gets ready to kick off its 78th edition. Many executives fear that Trump’s tariffs will jeopardize their businesses. There’s widespread confusion about how the tariffs on foreign-made films would be administered. If they do go into effect, they threaten to unravel a network of foreign subsidies that studios and indies rely on to finance their movies.
Source: How Trump’s Tariffs Could Derail the Cannes Film Festival
Top Hollywood studio execs are scheduled to hold a call with Motion Pictures Association chair-CEO Charles Rivkin on Friday to discuss President Donald Trump’s surprise proposal to impose tariffs on movies shot outside of the United States. So far, the MPA — which is the main trade organization representing movie studios and their parent companies — has yet to officially respond to Trump’s comments regarding tariffs.
Source: Hollywood Studio Heads to Address Trump’s Tariff Proposal With MPA Chief Charles Rivkin (Exclusive)