Creative Workers' Organisations on AI and EU AI Act

In a joint statement on generative artificial intelligence (AI) and the EU AI Act, authors’, performers’, and other creative workers’ organisations stressed the importance of protecting fundamental rights, ensuring transparency, and effectively implementing the EU AI Act.

AI Act A Step in the Right Direction

The organisations have welcomed the adoption of the AI Act, the first attempt by a significant regulator to control the unrestricted use of AI, including general-purpose AI models. Despite resistance from the tech industry, they underscored that AI technology and its applications have far-reaching implications for individuals, society, creators, and cultural diversity. The AI Act is seen as a crucial initiative to ensure AI develops in a way that respects fundamental principles and enhances human creativity, rather than replacing it.

Requirements and Regulations

The EU AI Act introduces specific rules for providers of general-purpose AI models, including a requirement to comply with EU copyright law and to publish detailed information about the data used. The organisations strongly support increased transparency around deep fakes and the development of technical tools to differentiate authentic content from AI-generated or manipulated content.

AI Act’s Effective Implementation

The AI Act still requires effective implementation to preserve fundamental rights, safeguard transparency, and enable authors and performers to exercise their rights. The organisations pledged to remain vigilant about the implementation of the Act at both the EU and national level.

Legal Ambiguities and Transparency

Even with the proper implementation of the AI Act, the organisations believe it will only serve as a temporary fix unless legal ambiguities are addressed and transparency, informed consent, and remuneration are firmly established in the current legal framework.

Rights of Creators

The organisations stress that authors and performers typically assign or transfer their IP rights based on treaties and conventions not designed to cover AI-related uses. Therefore, creators should retain the ability to consent or refuse the usage of their work in AI models. They should also be involved in rights reservation and the design of technical protocols used in relation to generative AI.

Call for Clear Legal Framework

As a new EU policy cycle begins, the organisations are urging EU decision makers to initiate a comprehensive and democratic debate leading to a clear legal framework that preserves the rights and the integrity of creators’ works. They seek to address the open issues linked to the text and data mining (TDM) exception and clarify its possible extension to generative AI.

Signatories

The joint statement brings together numerous associations and federations representing creative workers across various fields. These include the European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations, the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, the European Federation of Journalists, the European Writers’ Council, the European Guild for Artificial Intelligence Regulation, the Federation of European Screen Directors, the International Federation of Actors, the International Federation of Musicians, the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe, the International Artist Organisation, the International Federation of Journalists, UNI – Media, Entertainment and Arts, and the United Voice Artists.