As artificial intelligence starts to become more mainstream, it poses a serious threat to the creativity industries here in Australia. Nicola Grayson, head of public affairs at Creative Australia, identifies generative AI as the “big disruptor in the cultural and creative sector.” The rapid adoption of this technology has led to broad conversations surrounding copyright infringement and the potential impact on artists and content creators.
Stephen Cornwell is an award-winning digital artist best known for his precision graphic design and photo editing work. He worries about the growing confusion between his effort and what’s created by generative AI. He fears that the advances in AI are making it increasingly difficult to differentiate his creations from those generated by machines. Cornwell’s very serious concerns about a horrible new proposal from a federal government body. This proposal seeks to permanently change copyright law, opening the door for AI models to use this content without compensation or prior consent.
Louise Buckingham, the CEO of Community Legal Centre Arts Law, could hardly be more enthusiastic about Cornwell’s ideas. She characterizes the changes they’re proposing as a “get out of jail free card” for rich tech companies. She contends that these amendments would do nothing short of legalize infringement. This would be an undue burden on artists who rely on their IP to make a living.
These amendments would make significant changes to the Copyright Act. This would permit anyone to exploit works such as video, photo and audio under the “fair dealing” provisions, bypassing permission and payment. Fellow Commonwealth nation the United Kingdom as well as various members of the European Union, including Germany and the Netherlands, have adopted TDM exceptions. Buckingham cautions that Australia should not go down the same path that would be damaging to creators.
Grayson’s message is that Australia’s copyright law is already strong enough, and urges Australian policymakers to uphold the current rules instead of attempting to roll them back.… I think we’re seeing more artists than ever before making use of Community Legal Centre Arts Law’s services, ” says Sheila. Their worries are about how they’ll make a living now that AI-generated content is becoming more widespread.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers acknowledges the potential economic benefits of harnessing artificial intelligence, stating he is “optimistic that AI can be a force for good, but I’m realistic about the risks.” His comments come as the government contemplates how best to integrate AI into various sectors while safeguarding the interests of content creators.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley opposes the change. She calls for firm protections to prevent big tech firms from profiting off the backs of the hard-fought labor of Australian creators. “It is not appropriate for big tech to steal the hard-earned products of our content creators,” Ley asserts.
Cornwell, who was nominated for Australia’s top religious art award, the Blake Prize, in 2021, is adamant. She believes that generative AI needs to do more to support original creative work. He emphasizes that any student can use generative AI tools to achieve remarkable results, yet these outcomes are built on the foundations laid by original creators.
Tim Ayres, Industry and Science Minister, has stated that there are “no plans to make changes” to existing copyright laws at this time. Yet as negotiations persist, the ultimate future of copyright protection hangs in the balance, with countless artists looking on anxiously.
