Paul McCartney has spoken out against proposed changes to UK copyright law that could allow tech companies to use creators’ works for AI training without proper compensation. In an interview with the BBC, the former Beatle warned that the changes could “rip off” artists and lead to a “loss of creativity.”
The British government is considering a policy that would permit AI developers to use content available online to train their models unless the rights holders explicitly opt out. McCartney cautioned that this could create a “Wild West” scenario where artists’ work is unprotected.
“You get young guys, girls, coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it, and they don’t have anything to do with it. And anyone who wants can just rip it off,” McCartney said. “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’?”
The government maintains that its objective is to provide legal certainty and ensure creators have control and transparency over their work.
However, critics argue that the proposed “rights reservation” system, which would allow creators to opt out, is impractical. An alternative proposal, which would require artists to opt in to give permission for their content to be used, is set to be introduced in the House of Lords by crossbench peer Baroness Kidron.
McCartney warns of AI infringement
Tom Kiehl, chief executive of music industry body UK Music, expressed that the government’s plans could pose a significant risk to the creative sector. “There is no evidence that creatives can effectively ‘opt out’ of their work being trained by AI systems, so this apparent concession does not provide any reassurance to those working in music,” he said. McCartney acknowledged that while AI has its uses, it should not exploit creative individuals.
“We took an old cassette of John’s and cleaned his voice up so it sounded like it had just been recorded yesterday. So it has its uses. But it shouldn’t rip creative people off,” he stated.
The government’s consultation, which runs until February 25, aims to address key points of the debate, including how to build trust between the creative and AI sectors and how creators can be fairly remunerated. A government spokesperson indicated that they are keen to hear the views of the music industry and aim to deliver a copyright regime that balances control for artists with appropriate access for AI innovators.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
