Paul McCartney is speaking out against the British government, urging them to sign a bill that would protect artists from a new copyright law that could allow for AI to “rip off” them off.
Appearing on BBC Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said, “You get young guys and girls coming up, and they write a beautiful song, and they don’t own it. They don’t have anything to do with it, and anyone who wants can just rip it off.
“The truth is, the money’s going somewhere. When it gets on the streaming platforms, somebody’s getting [the money], and it should be the person who created it. It shouldn’t just be some tech giant somewhere. Somebody’s getting paid. Why shouldn’t it be the guy who sat down and wrote ‘Yesterday’?”
In December, artists, publishers, media and more formed the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, which aims to keep the current copyright protections in place despite the UK’s continued embrace of AI.
"We’re the people, you’re the government. You’re supposed to protect us. That’s your job,” said McCartney. “So if you’re putting through a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you’re not gonna have them. If there’s such a thing as a government, it’s their responsibility — I would think — to protect young people to try and enhance that whole thing so it works. So that these people have got job and can enhance the world with wonderful art.”
Elton John has come out in support of McCartney, saying, "The wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods.
“This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists’ work in order to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music. This will dilute and threaten young artists’ earnings even further. The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly...
"[It is] harder than ever for new and emerging musicians to make the finances of the industry stack up to sustain a fledgling career, due to challenging financial situations, including the increased costs of touring.
“Without thorough and robust copyright protection that allows artists to earn hard-fought earnings from their music, the UK’s future place on the world stage as a leader in arts and popular culture is under serious jeopardy.
“It is the absolute bedrock of artistic prosperity, and the country’s future success in the creative industries depends on it.”