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Our Advocacy: Artists Rights and Artificial Intelligence
Learn more about our efforts to protect the rights of our artist members.
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ARS is paying close attention to the developments and litigation surrounding artificial intelligence, or AI. Most notably, artists have voiced concern that their work is being used in AI training databases and that AI outputs could impact their livelihood in the long term.
As an advisor to its member artists, ARS is carefully considering how to best guide creators in this matter. To this end, we are sharing more on the initiatives, services, and legislation that we are supporting that protect the rights of artists.
ARS endorses the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act
Introduced by Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the Generative AI Copyright Disclosure would require a notice to be submitted to the Register of Copyrights prior to the release of a new generative AI system with regard to all copyrighted works used in building or altering the training dataset for that system. Artists Rights Society (ARS), with over 120,000 fine artist members worldwide, fully supports Rep. Schiff’s bill requiring those who establish an AI data set, or who have already done so, to reveal and register with the Copyright Office the identity of all copyrighted works employed in the data set. READ MORE ABOUT THE BILL HERE.
ARS announces support for Fairly Trained
Fairly Trained is a non-profit organization that provides certification to AI developers who do not use copyrighted works in their data set without a license. ARS is proud to support Fairly Trained’s mission to promote transparency and consent in the AI industry. LEARN MORE ABOUT FAIRLY TRAINED HERE.
ARS releases a Code of Conduct for AI Developers aimed at protecting visual artists.
The code of conduct outlines ground rules for AI developers to adhere to in order to mitigate harm to artists’ livelihoods. READ THE CODE OF CONDUCT HERE.
ARS pens reply comments in response to the U.S. Copyright Office’s notice of inquiry and request for comments on AI.
As the preeminent copyright management organization for fine artists in the US, Artists Rights Society addressed the questions posed by the Copyright Office and arguments made in comments in response to the notice of inquiry, and proposed a voluntary collective licensing solution wherein copyright owners affirmatively consent to the use of their copyrighted work. READ THE COMMENTS HERE.
ARS co-drafts comments with the Copyright Alliance in response to the US Copyright Office’s notice of inquiry on AI.
As a member of the Copyright Alliance, a non-profit, non-partisan public interest and educational organization dedicated to advocating policies that promote and preserve the value of copyright, ARS has co-drafted comments in response to the notice of inquiry regarding the Office’s study of the copyright law and policy issues raised by artificial intelligence (‘‘AI’’) systems. READ THE COMMENTS HERE.
ARS co-signs Legislative Proposals to Protect the Creative Professions and Mitigate Risk of Harm from Generative AI
Along with a coalition of organizations that represent creative professionals from diverse backgrounds., including book authors, journalists, songwriters, photographers, and other creative professionals, ARS has co-signed a letter proposing legislative strategies to protect workers in the creative economy. READ THE PROPOSAL HERE.
ARS and CISAC sign letter on behalf of Global Creators and Performers Demanding Creative Rights in AI Proliferation
As a member of CISAC, Artists Rights Society has signed a letter along with other organizations representing over 6 million artists worldwide to AI policymakers advocating for the livelihoods of artists and the protection of human creativity in the face of AI. READ THE LETTER HERE.
ARS pens letters to lawmakers working on Senator Schumer’s SAFE AI Framework
In advance of the US Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property hearing on July 12, 2023, ARS released letters to three lawmakers working on Senator Schumer’s newly released SAFE Innovation Framework for Artificial Intelligence. The letters to Senators Heinrich, Coons, and Tills advocate for the livelihood for visual artists and suggests strategies, namely extended collective licensing schemes, to tackle the issue of AI. READ THE LETTER HERE.
ARS co-signs Creators’ Call for Action on AI Copyright Exceptions
ARS joined 20+ organizations such as the Dramatist’s Guild, The National Writer’s Union, and the Songwriter’s Guild of America to co-sign on a letter released July 7, 2023 to appeal for action on violations of the Berne Convention by the application to copying of creative works for AI development of the TDM exception in Articles 3 and 4 of the 2019 EU Directive on Copyright. READ THE LETTER HERE.
Join our community of 100,000+ artists and take the first step to protect your copyright by becoming a member of Artists Rights Society!
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