Remuneration, authorisation, transparency: CISAC outlines priorities for creators in the AI age at IMPF’s creative summit

CISAC is using its global voice to join calls from music publishers, songwriters and other rights holders for creators’ rights to be at the centre of policy making on artificial intelligence (AI). The Confederation joined the 2023 Global Music Entrepreneurial and Creative Industry Summit in Palma, Spain on October 9th and 10th.

CISAC Director of Legal and Policy Constance Herreman Follain spoke on the panel “The Talk of the Town – AI, Web 4, Metaverses”. The discussion focused on how new technologies and artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities for music rightsholders, but also causing concerns within the copyright ecosystem. What does this mean for the future creation of music? How can human and AI creation co-exist?

Herreman portrayed a future “an AI-infused world” in which creators can use AI technologies while their rights and human creativity are protected and respected. There is “no need to panic”, she said, and creators and CMOs are well used to responding to technological advances.

In July, CISAC led a coalition of creators’ organisations in addressing policy makers through an Open Letter about concerns of artists, creators, and performers regarding artificial intelligence.  The letter set out 7 key principles to guide policy makers on future regulation of AI.

Herreman stressed the positive possibilities for the use of AI.  For creators, new technologies are shaking up the process of creation while reducing technical tasks. For CMOs, opportunities are emerging to improve rights management, increase efficiencies, and improve the quality and accuracy of data.

Against this background, she also laid out the key priorities for policy makers that have been outlined by CISAC to ensure that creators can effectively benefit from these technologies. She emphasised that creators should be in a position to authorise the use of their works for AI purposes and receive remuneration for this usage. This is a basic principle of copyright law.

Unity across the music sector, a global approach and a seat at the table at the highest level of debate are vital for achieving the protection of creators’ rights.  Global solutions are needed in reinforcing the application of copyright law principles to respect creators’ rights. This must be done without exceptions, with clear rules requiring transparency and accountability for AI services.