Protecting culture and defending authors with inaugural Creators Day in Sofia

Sofia, Bulgaria saw creators, CEOs, leaders, and professionals from across the globe spanning artistic repertoires come together for the annual CISAC General Assembly, hosted by MUSICAUTOR. Following the GA, the new Creators Day event took place on May 29.

Jointly organised by CISAC and the International Council of Music Creators (CIAM), the day showcased the role of creators in shaping copyright policy while being a forum on GenAI, cultural diversity and the challenges of developing markets. 

Keynote speaker Fairly Trained founder and advocate for ethical AI, Ed Newton-Rex delivered a compelling address calling for the need for AI companies to obtain licenses for the use of copyrighted works. “Scraping millions of copyrighted works to train on is the original sin of generative AI development,” he said.

Newton-Rex discussed how AI companies using unlicensed, copyrighted works directly compete and is “major unjust threat to the livelihoods of the people behind those works and must not be permitted.” Public opinion polls consistently show an overwhelming rejection of unlicensed use of works by AI companies. As governments are to represent their people, governments should reject unlicensed use. He pointed out that “countries can lead in AI without upending copyright law.”

He concluded, “If creators speak with one voice, they will be heard. Legalizing IP theft should not be an option on the table. There is a better path forward that can work for both creatives and the AI industry, and that path is licensing.”

Following the keynote, CISAC’s Vice Presidency, South African singer-songwriter Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Japanese painter Kazuhiko Fukuoji and Mexican composer Arturo Márquez, engaged in discussions about protecting creators and their priorities with CISAC. Arturo Márquez emphasized that “it is important continue to fight and find ways to protect our work.” Yvonne Chaka Chaka built upon this saying, “We need proper governance and policies to be put in place so that artists should not always die paupers.” Kazuhiko Fukuoji underscored the importance of collective voices as, “What I can do is a small thing as an individual, but within CISAC, I hope that my words can spread.” 

Preserving the beauty of human culture: GenAI and cultural diversity

Two panels reinforced solidarity with and among creators. GenAI and Cultural Diversity – maintaining value in a free world, moderated by songwriter, artist and CIAM President Arriën Molema, explored how AI tools are reshaping artistic production while posing a threat to cultural authenticity. Panellists included music composer and producer Carlos Lara (SACM), film director and screenwriter Kenneth Gyang (AVRS), film director, TV and film writer Inés París (SGAE), visual artist Elizabeth Ambriz (SOMAAP), and music composer and producer Nickolay Madjarov-Faycheto (MUSICAUTOR).

The use of AI among creators is prevalent and often gives new opportunities to think outside the box and to save time, such as in producing audiovisual material. However, these tools pose serious questions in homogenizing cultures, wiping out the nuances and a richness that exists today. 

Nigerian director Kenneth Gyang warned that “AI is not properly trained on my cultural sensitivities. We have to live in a world where AI exists, but we also have to live in a world where there is proper representation of who I am as a person. If I am not properly represented, we’ll have many projects from my country with the aesthetics of a Western centric or a particular perspective.”

Elizabeth Ambriz worried that “in the end, we might have two different cultures. One that is a sanctuary of everything human. Then a massive culture that everyone will have access to but lacks the critical capacity, innovation and differences that comes with human creation. We cannot allow AI to take the maximum amount of territory and human creation just become a niche.”

Summarising the panel, Arriën Molema said, “We create new narratives for people to see and look at the world. That is very difficult if that is being based on old biases and perceptions.” He reiterated, “The beauty is that we need human creators. We need those to be enforced by law and regulations, otherwise it will be a mess.”

Solidarity and cooperation in the face of challenges in developing markets

Moderated by renowned singer and songwriter, CISAC Vice President Yvonne Chaka Chaka, the panel Creators, challenges and developing markets shifted focus to finding opportunities and transforming ecosystems. Speakers included musician and producer Derrick Ashong (TBTM/UNESCO), singer and songwriter Solange Cesarovna (AMA/CIAM), screenwriter and producer Lilo Petrov (FILMAUTOR), film and music creator Saken Belgibayev (KazAK), music composer, producer and artist Notapol Srichomkwan (MCT), singer and songwriter Thando Nyameni (CAPASSO), and CISAC Presidency and Creators Director Anna Neale.

Creators dived into the difficulties of their regions, including Bulgaria, Africa, Kazakhstan, and Thailand. Various issues include when governments don’t regard author’s rights societies properly but as a burden; an insufficient legislative or regulatory environment; a lack of adherence to law; and the need for basic infrastructure and copyright education. 

In some instances, lacking infrastructure pushes out local creators. Thando Nyameni described, “Artists spend a lifetime developing their skills and come into an ecosystem where somebody with more resources can put together a sound that takes from your cultural patrimony and put it in a country where you can actually get connected. All of a sudden, artists from your homeland are being pushed out of their own cultural expression.”

Copyright laws can be outdated. The law in Kazakhstan was made in 1996 prior to many modern advancements and technologies. Yet without copyright education, remuneration may still not make it to the proper creator due to a lack of understanding their own rights as in Africa or Thailand. 

Furthermore, Derrick Ashong called for a certification to protect creators in this era of AI: “I want to know if my content was created by people or by a program. Machines will erase the need for copyright unless people demand they want art made by other people, that pays artists so they can make more art and that our culture is sustained.”

Panellists detailed issues that arise from territories having multiple CMOs or societies that require additional support or organisation to function correctly on behalf of creators. However, all agreed that cooperation is the way forward. Solange Cesarovna said, “When we help each other to solve something in Africa, Latin America or other regions, we are solving global problems in copyright.” 

Collectively calling to respect creators in Bulgaria

The end of Creators Day wrapped up with a collective call by creators from around the world to protect copyright to protect culture in Bulgaria.