Both Paul McCartney and Elton John have spoken out against proposed changes to UK copyright law, which could allow AI developers to mine from creators’ content on the internet.
The suggested change would mean creative works could be used to develop AI models unless the rights holders actively opt out. Many have argued that an artist would face a lot of difficulty in trying to contact thousands of different AI companies to do so, and that keeping track of where their creations have been used across the web would be incredibly challenging.
The government says it aims to deliver legal certainty through a copyright regime that provides creators with “real control” and transparency, as per the BBC. In an interview for Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, McCartney argues that the changes could cause a loss in incentive for artists to want to create music, stating, “When we were kids in Liverpool, we found a job that we loved, but it also paid the bills.”
McCartney also shares concerns over the lack of rights over an artists’ own music: “You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it. They don’t have anything to do with it, and anyone who wants can just rip it off. The truth is, the money’s going somewhere. Somebody’s getting paid, so why shouldn’t it be the guy who sat down and wrote Yesterday?”
He adds, “We’re the people, you’re the government! You’re supposed to protect us… If you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them.”
Reflecting on the use of AI to clean up John Lennon’s vocals in the “final” Beatles song, Now And Then, he says, “It has its uses, but it shouldn’t rip creative people off. There’s no sense in that.”
Echoing McCartney’s beliefs, Elton John tells The Sunday Times that “The wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods.”
He further states, “This will dilute and threaten young artists’ earnings even further. The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly… Without thorough and robust copyright protection that allows artists to earn hard-fought earnings from their music, the UK’s future place on the world stage as a leader in arts and popular culture is under serious jeopardy.”
