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\n\tTwo years after the European Parliament passed the Artificial Intelligence Act<\/a>, MEPs\u00a0this week finally adopted a report on copyright and generative AI.<\/p>\n \n\tOn Tuesday, March 10, Parliament\u00a0passed its resolution on \u201cCopyright and generative artificial intelligence \u2013 opportunities and challenges\u201d with an overwhelming majority of 460 votes to 71, and with 88 abstentions.<\/p>\n \n\tThe report calls for the EU and its 27 member states to\u00a0focus on the\u00a0crucial\u00a0issues of how\u00a0AI and tech companies\u00a0engage with copyright-protected music in the digital age, and explores a licensing system as a solution, paving the way for fair compensation for the use of creative works.<\/p>\n \n\tThe European Parliament\u2019s vote, led by rapporteur Axel Voss<\/strong> (EPP, Germany), is a stride in the right direction, say music industry reps. But there\u2019s considerable work to be done. \u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cAs the\u00a0European\u00a0Commission is currently assessing the\u00a0EU\u00a0copyright framework, the\u00a0Parliament\u00a0has clearly recognized the need for action to ensure fairness, transparency and appropriate remuneration for creators in the generative AI market,\u201d\u00a0said Adriana Moscoso del Prado<\/strong>, GM of GESAC<\/a>, the European group of societies of authors and composers.\u00a0\u201cThis political report also stresses the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the\u00a0European\u00a0legal system, which must apply equally to all services operating in the\u00a0EU, while ensuring a level playing field for Europe\u2019s innovative businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThis vote, notes Moscoso del Prado, adds to the growing recognition at\u00a0EU\u00a0level of what is at stake: innovation, fairness and cultural sovereignty must go hand in hand.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA) also welcomes the outcome as one that addresses the organization\u2019s repeated calls for a high-level debate on the interplay between copyright and generative AI.<\/p>\n \n\tNext up, remarks Helienne Lindvall<\/strong><\/a>, songwriter and ECSA president, the European Commission must turn words into action.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cToday\u2019s adoption of this resolution by the European Parliament marks an important step towards ensuring consent, transparency, and remuneration of rightsholders in the context of AI, answering our calls for a long-overdue democratic debate on these issues,\u201d notes Lindvall.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe now urge the European Commission to duly take into account these crucial recommendations by proposing an additional legal framework to safeguard authors\u2019 rights in the age of AI.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIMPALA\u2019s<\/a> executive chair\u00a0Helen\u00a0Smith<\/strong> echoes those comments. \u201cWhilst we do not agree with all the recommendations in the report, we fully agree exclusive rights are key,\u201d Smith explains. \u201cWe also welcome the\u00a0parliament\u2019s\u00a0emphasis on the importance of voluntary licensing. As far as our members, European\u00a0independent music companies, are concerned, voluntary licensing \u2013 whether individual or collective \u2013 based\u00a0on exclusive rights and contractual freedom to decide whether to authorize is key\u00a0to build a licensing market for the use of copyright-protected music by GenAI models.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe trade body, which represents more than 6,000 independent music companies across Europe, is calling on the\u00a0European\u00a0Parliament\u00a0and European\u00a0Commission to focus on implementation of the current copyright regime \u201crather than look to open it up.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tAI isn\u2019t a buzz word in Europe. It\u2019s seen as both a gift and a threat to a creative sector which generates an estimated 6.9% of the EU\u2019s GDP.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cWe need clear rules for the use of copyright-protected content for AI training,\u201d rapporteur\u00a0Voss said after the vote.\u00a0\u201cLegal certainty would let AI developers know which content can be used and how licences can be obtained. On the other hand, rightsholders would be protected against unauthorized use of their content and receive remuneration. If we want to promote and develop AI in Europe while also protecting our creators, then these provisions are absolutely indispensable.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tRead more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n