Over 420 Hollywood creatives, including top actors and directors, have signed an open letter urging the U.S. government to uphold copyright protections and resist AI industry efforts to weaken them for model training. (Source: Image by RR)

Entertainment Industry Says Copyright Rollbacks Harm Hollywood Economy

A growing number of Hollywood actors, directors, and creatives are speaking out against efforts by major AI companies like OpenAI and Google to loosen copyright protections in the name of AI development. More than 420 entertainment industry professionals, including Natasha Lyonne, Bette Midler, Ava DuVernay and Mark Ruffalo, signed an open letter urging the U.S. government to preserve current copyright laws. The group, as noted in cbsnews.com, argues that proposals to allow AI training on copyrighted material without consent or compensation would damage creative industries and undermine the livelihoods of millions who depend on their intellectual property.

The debate centers around submissions made by OpenAI and Google to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, advocating for exceptions to copyright laws to facilitate AI model training. While the tech companies claim this use would fall under fair use and wouldn’t significantly harm rights holders, creatives remain unconvinced. Their concerns echo long-standing fears that AI could exploit artists’ work without permission, and they point to the contentious 2024 SAG-AFTRA negotiations as a sign of the stakes. The resulting agreement with studios included provisions for consent and compensation when digital replicas are used—hard-won victories that many now feel are under renewed threat.

California has already taken steps to address the issue. Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation requiring labor contracts to declare any planned AI replicas of performers and banning the commercial use of digital likenesses of deceased artists without estate consent. Meanwhile, the signatories of the open letter, which now includes high-profile names like Cate Blanchett, Guillermo del Toro and Taika Waititi, continue to grow. The letter emphasizes the entertainment industry’s significant economic role—supporting 2.3 million jobs and generating over $229 billion in wages annually—and warns that AI companies seeking to bypass copyright protections risk destabilizing this vital sector.

The copyright debate comes amid shifting national policies on AI. Vice President JD Vance recently warned the EU against overregulating AI at a Paris summit, urging support for innovation. Simultaneously, President Trump has pledged $500 billion in private-sector AI infrastructure investment and rolled back President Biden’s executive order promoting safe and ethical AI development. The American Civil Liberties Union criticized the repeal as a “grave mistake,” emphasizing the importance of guardrails that protect civil liberties, promote transparency, and ensure AI systems comply with existing laws. The tension between AI innovation and creative rights continues to intensify.

read more at cbsnews.com