Trade bodies join 10,500 creators to condemn unlicensed training of AI models

A coalition of trade bodies including the Publishers Association (PA) and the Society of Authors (SoA) have joined with over 10,500 creators globally to highlight the unlicensed training of generative artificial intelligence (AI) models using creative works.

Together with the Publishers’ Licensing Services, Independent Publishers Guild, Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and Association of Authors’ Agents, the PA and SoA have released a statement with more than 10,500 creators including writers, musicians, artists, photographers and actors. They are emphasising the impact of unlicensed training of generative AI models on creative works.

The statement reads: “This is a critical time for creators globally and in the UK we eagerly await the government’s next policy move domestically. This action from some of the people behind the books, films, music and art we love serves to shine a light on the threat to the creative community from AI companies using content without transparency, permission and fair compensation.

“That is why, as organisations that represent authors and the publishing sector, we have signed the statement.”

Last week it was revealed that Penguin Random House has changed the wording on its copyright pages to help protect authors’ intellectual property from being used to train large language models (LLMs) and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools. The SoA said it welcomed the change but added that the current wording did not go far enough, as author contracts also needed to be amended. 

AI has been a major talking point across events this year including this month’s Frankfurt Book Fair and the IPG Conference in September. 

For more information, visit the coalition’s statement here.