Key Points
- A group of hundreds of famous artists has launched a new campaign called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation.”
- The campaign is a pushback against AI companies using copyrighted work for training without compensation.
- The signatories include Cyndi Lauper, Common, and Scarlett Johansson.
- The artists are not calling for a ban, but for a licensing and partnership system.
A group of hundreds of famous actors, musicians, and writers has launched a new campaign to fight back against what they call the “theft” of their work by artificial intelligence companies. The campaign, called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” is the latest in a growing chorus of voices raising concerns about how AI models are trained on copyrighted material without permission or payment.
The campaign’s website features a powerful statement and a lengthy list of signatories, including big names such as Cyndi Lauper, Common, Scarlett Johansson, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. They argue that some of the world’s biggest tech companies are “using American creators’ work to build AI platforms without authorization or regard for copyright law.”
“It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple,” the website declares.
The artists are not calling for a complete ban on the use of their work for AI training. Instead, they are pushing for a “better way” forward, one that involves “licensing deals and partnerships.” This would create a “responsible, ethical route” for AI companies to obtain the content they need while ensuring that the original creators are compensated for their work.
This has been a major point of contention in the AI world for years, with numerous lawsuits and disputes over the issue. This new campaign, with its star-studded list of supporters, is a clear sign that the creative community has had enough and is ready to fight for its rights.
It remains to be seen if this latest push will have any real impact. So far, the tech giants have largely acted with impunity, but the growing public pressure and the threat of more legal battles could finally force them to change their ways.
