Alberts has welcomed news as reported in The Guardian that the Australian government has ruled out changes to copyright laws that protect Australian creatives when it comes to AI.
In August, the Productivity Commission recommended a ‘Text and Data Mining’ exception be made to Australian copyright laws to enable content produced by local musicians, writers, artists and journalists be used to train AI systems for free and without permission.
The government announced on Sunday it will not consider this proposed exception and will introduce reforms to ban tech companies from using AI to copy and exploit creative works without paying the creators.
“Artificial intelligence presents significant opportunities for Australia and our economy, however it’s important that Australian creatives benefit from these opportunities too,” says Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.
“Australian creatives are not only world class, they are also the lifeblood of Australian culture, and we must ensure the right legal protections are in place.”
APRA AMCOS’ landmark AI and Music Report found 97% of its members expect AI platforms to disclose when they use copyrighted works as training data, and to seek consent, give credit, and provide remuneration when using cultural IP.
“This is a significant moment for Australian creators and our cultural sovereignty,” says Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, the music rights management organisation representing over 128,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. “The Australian Government has recognised that Australia’s world-leading licensing framework is the pathway to ethical AI development, not a barrier to innovation.
Alberts has always championed artists’ rights, dating back to 1926 when former chairman and managing director Frank Albert co-founded the Australasian Performing Right Association.
