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On Tuesday, the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution aimed at establishing a legal framework to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in Europe while protecting cultural sovereignty and creators' rights. The resolution, titled "Copyright and Generative Artificial Intelligence – Opportunities and Challenges," was prepared by MEP Alex Fos from the Christian Democratic Union.
The resolution includes proposals to mandate full disclosure of all copyright-protected works used in training AI models within EU laws, with automatic measures imposed on those who fail to comply with transparency requirements. It also calls for the creation of a licensing framework that recognizes collective management organizations to ensure fair compensation for creators whose works are used by generative AI tools.
The approval of the resolution comes at a time when European copyright laws are undergoing a comprehensive review, with the revision of the 2021 Digital Single Market Directive expected to begin next June. Several professional associations, such as the European Screen Directors Association, the Screenwriters' Union, and the European Audiovisual Authors Society, welcomed the resolution, considering it a necessary step to protect their rights from unfair exploitation by AI companies.
Conversely, the Computing and Communications Industry Association expressed concerns that the resolution's measures could hinder Europe's access to advanced technologies, noting that the current exceptions in the Copyright Directive are sufficient and that new legislation could increase legal complexity and compliance costs for emerging European companies.
It is worth noting that the resolution is non-binding and aims to guide the European Commission toward taking concrete actions in regulating artificial intelligence and copyright, amid the growing challenges posed by AI technology developments to creators' rights and the protection of cultural diversity in Europe.