bbc
This doesn’t sound right.
Paul McCartney is warning that proposed changes to British copyright laws that would allow AI developers to use creators’ content on the internet will make life miserable for artists trying to make money.
The former Beatles star said the laws will undoubtedly rip off the new generation of musicians.
“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,” the singer-songwriter told the BBC in an interview that is airing tomorrow.
The British government is toying with the idea of letting tech firms use copyrighted material to assist in the training of AI models — allowing for copyright infringement if used for AI programs.
Artists would be able to opt out, but opponents are saying it’s impossible for them to notify the thousands of AI service providers that exist as well as monitor if their work is being used on the internet without permission.
McCartney, 82, who has a net worth of $1.2 billion, firmly believes the artists themselves should be earning the revenue their work gains — not tech companies.
“The truth is, the money’s going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody is getting it, and it should be the person who created it,” he told the outlet. “It shouldn’t just be some tech giant somewhere.”
The Liverpool native, who was 18 when The Beatles formed, noted that the band was able to make ends meet financially, which allowed them to continue performing.
“When we were kids in Liverpool, we found a job that we loved, but it also paid the bills,” he said.
When asked what his message would be to the politicians trying to push the law, he said, “We’re the people, you’re the government. You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job.”
He also warned that there will be less people in the creative industry who “can enhance the world with wonderful art” if the law passes.
“So you know, if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not going to have them,” he said.