Chinese artificial intelligence developer DeepSeek spent just $294,000 on training its R1 model, much less than reported for US rivals, it said in a paper that is likely to reignite debate over Beijing’s place in the AI race. The rare update from the Hangzhou-based company – the first estimate it has released of R1’s training costs – appeared Wednesday in a peer-reviewed article in the academic journal Nature.
Meta Approaches Media Companies About AI Content-Licensing Deals
Meta Platforms has held discussions in recent months with a number of media companies, including Axel Springer, Fox Corp. and News Corp, about licensing their articles for use in its artificial-intelligence tools. Meta, parent of Facebook and Instagram, offers a range of AI-powered products, including a variety of chatbots. Its conversations with media companies have focused on licensing news and other content for use across those products, according to people familiar with the matter.
Source: Meta Approaches Media Companies About AI Content-Licensing Deals
Why The Economist isn’t doing AI deals but has launched on Substack
Many publishers have done deals around the use of their content with ChatGPT owner OpenAI. However The Economist has not signed with OpenAI or any of its competitors. Bradley-Jones explained: “I think we see those products as publishing platforms. That’s fundamentally what they’re trying to create. And why would you license your content in any meaningful volume to a competitor platform?”
Source: Why The Economist isn’t doing AI deals but has launched on Substack
Top music body says AI firms guilty of ‘wilful’ copyright theft
AI companies have sucked up the world’s entire music catalogue and are guilty of “wilful, commercial-scale copyright infringement”, a major music industry group told AFP. The ICMP is one of a number of industry bodies spanning the news media and publishing to target the booming artificial intelligence sector over its use of content without paying royalties.
Source: Top music body says AI firms guilty of ‘wilful’ copyright theft
GEMA to cut ‘on-demand music distribution’ commission to 7%
Germany’s performance rights organization, GEMA, plans to reduce its commission on all “on-demand music distribution” to 7% from 10% by 2027, a move that is expected to increase annual payouts to music creators by more than EUR €6 million (USD $7 million). The PRO will implement the cut in stages, beginning with a reduction to 9% in January 2026 before reaching the target rate the following year.
Managers contribute USD $974m in value to UK music business, says new report
The research, conducted by RMR Research, Jem Associates, and The Hub, found that each £1 invested in management services generated £8across the broader sector. According to the study, artists, songwriters and producers capture 88% of the total value, equivalent to£627 million ($855m), through increased earnings, productivity and business connections facilitated by their managers.
Source: Managers contribute USD $974m in value to UK music business, says new report
UK Creators Demand PM Recognize Creators’ Human Rights
Ahead of U.S. President Trump’s visit to the United Kingdom, 70-plus of the UK’s biggest creators and creative organizations have issued an open letter calling on the government to protect the rights of UK copyright holders by upholding international human rights standards. With signatures from heavy-hitters including Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and Elton John, the letter has also been signed by creative organizations like the News Media Association, UK Music, Pan MacMillan, and Getty Images.
Source: UK Creators Demand PM Recognize Creators’ Human Rights
Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBCU Sue Chinese AI Company MiniMa
Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal are taking legal aim at another AI company that they allege is massively ripping off their intellectual property. On Tuesday, the three media companies filed a lawsuit against MiniMax, a Chinese AI company that is reportedly valued at $4 billion, alleging “willful and brazen” copyright infringement.
Trump Delays TikTok Ban Again
The extension could be Mr. Trump’s last for the video app. He and other officials said this week that they had reached a framework for a deal with China to address national security concerns about ByteDance and its ties to Beijing. “We have a deal on TikTok,” Mr. Trump told reporters on Tuesday. “We have a group of very big companies that want to buy it.”
Source: Trump Delays TikTok Ban Again
Labels settle copyright lawsuit against Internet Archive
Major record labels including Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment have reached a confidential settlement with the nonprofit Internet Archive, ending a two-year legal battle over its digitization and streaming of vintage vinyl recordings. The parties filed a joint notice in California federal court on Monday (September 15), requesting that Judge Maxine Chesney pause all case deadlines while they complete the settlement terms.
Source: Labels settle copyright lawsuit against Internet Archive over streaming of vintage vinyl records