Hollywood is backing a bill aimed at increasing accountability for AI companies as conceptual artificial intelligence tools make their way into the entertainment industry.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Tuesday, mandates that companies disclose copyrighted materials utilized in training relational AI systems. Should the bill be approved, entities like OpenAI may be compelled to reveal the videos and other content employed in the creation of Sora.
This initiative, though ambitious, seeks to provide support to businesses and creators in the industry who face potential setbacks due to the emergence of relational AI tools that could significantly impact the production process. If it becomes evident that copyrighted works from various creators were utilized by businesses in developing AI techniques, legal action could ensue.
The proposed act has garnered praise from trade associations and organizations across various sectors. Many argue that AI systems are currently being trained in violation of copyright laws.
Meredith Stiehm, the president of the Writers Guild of America West, hailed the bill as a crucial first step in addressing the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials in training conceptual AI systems.
Lesli Linka Glatter, president of the Directors Guild of America, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of helping filmmakers protect their creative assets.
IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb believes that the legislation could help safeguard the rights of workers in the industry.
Support for the policy spans a wide range of groups, including the Recording Industry Association of America, Authors Guild, National Association of Voice Actors, Concept Art Association, Recording Academy, and National Association of Voice Actors, among others.
Under the proposed law, companies involved in creating or modifying training datasets for conceptual AI systems must submit a detailed summary of any copyrighted works used to regulators within 30 days of disclosure to consumers. The U.S. Copyright Office will then compile this information into a database, with non-compliance carrying a penalty of $5,000.
In a statement, Rep. Schiff emphasized the transformative potential of AI and the pressing need for ethical standards and protections to be established alongside its development.
Passing the legislation in the Senate may prove challenging, partly due to ongoing debates on whether using copyrighted materials to train AI systems violates intellectual property rights. Court cases involving authors, artists, and music publishers are still pending and could take years to resolve.
AI companies, concerned about losing a competitive edge by disclosing their training datasets, are likely to oppose the bill. For instance, OpenAI ceased sharing information about its dataset sources last year, citing competitive pressures and safety concerns related to large-scale models like GPT-4.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, executive director of SAG-AFTRA, underscored the importance of protecting human creative content, stating that all AI-generated content ultimately originates from human creativity.
The following endorsements have been received:
“The Recording Industry Association of America commends Congressman Schiff for his leadership on this critical issue, emphasizing the necessity of comprehensive and transparent record-keeping as a foundational element for effective enforcement of creators’ rights,” said Ken Doroshow, Chief Legal Officer, Recording Industry Association of America.
Professional Photographers of America, representing 35,000 members, strongly supports the bill, particularly due to concerns about generative AI companies potentially infringing upon their works. CEO David Trust highlighted the urgency of the issue, noting the challenges faced by copyright owners as their proprietary content is utilized by AI companies without consent.
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of the Writers Guild of America East, praised the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act as a significant legislative step towards ethical and transparent use of AI technology by businesses.
ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews emphasized the importance of the bill in ensuring fair compensation for creators and preventing AI companies from exploiting copyrighted works without proper authorization.
Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, Co-Chair of the Black Music Action Coalition, expressed support for the legislation, emphasizing the need to prioritize human creators’ rights and hold AI companies accountable for their use of copyrighted materials.
Dr. Moiya McTier, Senior Advisor at the Human Artistry Campaign, lauded Rep. Schiff’s proposal as a crucial move towards ethical AI practices that respect artists and creators. Dr. McTier called for clear guidelines on record-keeping to create a level playing field for innovative applications and tools in the AI sector.
