February 18, 2024

Government announces temporary AI reference group

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) recently announced the formation of a temporary AI reference group, which will operate until 30 June 2024 (here). The Group’s terms of reference are here, and its members are here (scroll to bottom of page). The group’s members have backgrounds in law (such as legal issues associated […]

February 15, 2024

Study on Generative AI impacts on music sector

On 30 January 2024, copyright management organisations for music composers in France and Germany (SACEM and GEMA) released the results of a study of the impacts on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the music sector. You can see the organisations’ announcement here, a summary of the study here, and the full report here. The study: […]

February 13, 2024

UK working group unable to agree AI copyright code

On 6 February, the UK Government confirmed that a working group overseen by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) had failed to reach agreement on a code of practice on copyright and Artificial Intelligence (AI). In its response to ‘A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation’ (here) the UK Government said: 28. Creative industries and media […]

February 7, 2024

EU AI Act one step closer

On Friday 2 February, the ambassadors of the 27 Member States of the European Union (EU) unanimously approved the AI Act. This follows a political agreement in December 2023: see here. There is information about the status of the AI Act and next steps here. They include: 13 Feb: the European Parliament’s Committees vote 21 […]

February 4, 2024

Canadian writers and publishers joint statement on Generative AI

In January, 12 organisations representing Canadian writers and publishers issued a joint statement on copyright and Generative artificial intelligence (AI). It opposes any changes to Canada’s copyright legislation to introduce new exceptions to train large language models for AI, or to give copyright protection to AI-generated products. You can see the statement here. You can […]

February 4, 2024

UK Parliamentary report on Gen AI urges copyright compliance and licensing

On 2 February, the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee released its report on large language models and generative AI. You can see the Executive Summary here and the full report here. Chapter 8 of the report deals with copyright issues (here). The Executive Summary says: We have even deeper concerns about the Government’s […]

February 2, 2024

Copyright Agency members recognised at Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2024

The winners of the 2024 VPLAs were announced in an awards ceremony at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne last night. We were delighted to see so many Copyright Agency members recognised across the categories, with special mention to the winners: Chinese Fish by Grace Ye, Victorian Prize for Literature Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko, Fiction A […]

February 1, 2024

UK code of practice on copyright and AI

In January 2024, the UK Government responded to a report from the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee entitled ‘Connected tech: AI and creative technology’. You can see the Committee’s report here, and the Government’s response here. In its response the Government: confirmed that it is not pursuing a copyright exception for text […]