Whilst the first story in this piece will no doubt strike you as yet another AI tale, the real theme of today is copyright. I brought you news at the end of last year that the UK government was launching a consultation on AI and the balance between creative rights holders and technology platforms. One major coalition of interest groups has made its submission to the consultation public: the Creative Rights in AI Coalition (CRAIC. Seriously? … Imagines future quizmaster asking, “What’s the CRAIC?”). The coalition includes the ALCS and Society of Authors.
Key Points from the Creative Rights in AI Coalition
ALLi News Editor, Dan Holloway
They make two points of particular note. First, that transparency is essential, but with a key qualifier: that transparency does not excuse acting without permission. And second, that existing copyright law does a perfectly good job; that ways should be found to enforce it; and that any tech company that wants to license our work should come to us for permission and explain fully what is involved.
High Court Victory for Copyright Enforcement
Meanwhile, some good news for the current enforcement of copyright law in the UK. The High Court has upheld a case from the Publishers Association about a group of websites that host pirated content. Internet Service Providers will now be required to keep the taps to the sites off. But it will also require a similar blocking of any subsequent copycat sites that seek to draw in those who had been using the originals, and to do so within ten days of being asked. The legislation applies to the highly controversial link repository Library Genesis, among others.
And while I’m still saying Happy New Years, congratulations to literary legends Jacqueline Wilson (many of us who spent the break watching the wonderful adaptations of her work will be especially pleased), Kazuo Ishiguro, and Alan Hollinghurst for their New Year Honors gongs.
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