The letter comes in response to tech companies like OpenAI and Google, which have submitted briefs to the Trump administration's AI Action Plan, advocating for copyright and intellectual property workarounds. These companies argue that such measures are necessary to maintain U.S. leadership in AI, especially against competition from China. However, the entertainment industry signatories contend that tech companies should negotiate licenses with copyright holders instead of seeking government exemptions, emphasizing that access to creative content is not a matter of national security.
Key takeaways:
- Over 400 entertainment industry figures, including Paul McCartney and Cate Blanchett, signed a letter urging the Trump administration to maintain strong copyright protections against AI companies.
- The letter argues that weakening copyright rules for AI training would harm America's creative industries, which support over 2.3 million jobs and $229 billion in wages annually.
- Tech companies like OpenAI and Google are seeking exemptions from copyright laws to access data for AI training, which the signatories oppose.
- The letter emphasizes the importance of upholding existing copyright frameworks to preserve America's cultural and economic strength.