EANA co-signs Joint statement from European creators and rightsholders on EU AI Act

EANA co-signs Joint statement from European creators and rightsholders on EU AI Act. Please read the full statement below: 

Brussels, 1 February 2024

We represent a broad coalition of over two hundred organisations in Europe’s creative and
cultural sectors, encompassing authors from multiple sectors including music, visual,
audiovisual, and literary; book and press publishers of newspapers, magazines and specialised
publications, music, scientific and technical publishers; recorded music, film and audiovisual
producers; publishers of films and audiovisual content online and offline; distributors and
photo agencies.

We call on the Member States of the European Union to show global leadership and
approve the AI Act at the COREPER meeting on 2 February.

The AI Act is a vital piece of legislation that will regulate the role of AI in Europe and help set
a global standard for how we expect AI systems to operate. Europe has a unique opportunity
to show global leadership in the AI framework, for the benefit of EU citizens, creators, rights
holders, industry, and the wider economy.
Following the recent rapid emergence of popular generative AI tools, the text agreed upon by
the trilogue negotiators proposes light-touch obligations for ‘“General Purpose AI Models.”
These obligations represent a minimum basis to build on efforts to enable European creators
and rights holders to ensure their rights are being respected and that authorisation is sought
for the use of their content.
Doing so would foster an environment where rights and commercial freedoms are respected
by simultaneously fostering the licensing of creative content to AI models – kickstarting
partnership and innovation opportunities.
The introduction of such obligations with respect to generative AI is not only the right thing
to do but would position the EU to help set a global standard in AI regulation. It would also
be an essential enabler for the creation of value in AI and a platform for future development
and innovation in the EU.

EANA Secretariat