We can't let AI take it all, warns Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus
Abba's Bjorn Ulvaeus has warned of the dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI) copyright laws.
The musician and lyricist, 80, is the latest to join a row over government plans to water down copyright laws for the benefit of big tech companies.
The Swedish star backed calls from more than 1,000 artists urging ministers to change course in allowing tech companies to train AI on British works by default.
He told The Times: 'Copyright is the oxygen which creators and the creative economy depend on for their existence and survival.
'They cannot be sacrificed. Unfortunately, there is an alternative and, in my opinion, more dangerous view, driven by profit-seeking tech companies. That view favours a weaker rights framework and broad exceptions to copyright.'
Under government plans, big tech companies would be allowed to use copyrighted material to train new software unless the rights holder explicitly opted out. It would mean that giant US tech firms could plunder artists' work to feed their AI chatbots.
A consultation on the proposals closed in late February amid fierce opposition from the creative sector, and fears that the creation of AI music and art could drown out works by humans. Ministers are due to respond this year.
Ulvaeus added that AI training must be subject to 'clear transparency rules', where creators should be able to license their own works and receive guaranteed remuneration.
More than 1,000 artists – including Damon Albarn, Kate Bush and Sam Fender – have put their names to a silent album in protest against the plans.
Writing for The Telegraph in February, Dame Caroline Dinenage, the chairman of the culture, media and sport committee, accused AI firms of the 'largest copyright heist in the world's history'.
She argued the Government's proposed 'opt-out' scheme would not provide sufficient safeguards to creative work.
She said the launch of the Make It Fair campaign, a coalition of creatives, artists and businesses against the plans, had sent a 'loud and clear' message that the proposals were 'not fair'.
'If the Government carries on down its preferred pathway of an 'opt-out', [creatives] say the very foundations that make the UK a world leader in culture and creativity would be lost,' she warned.
Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, and Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, are considering the responses to the consultation and have the final say on any changes to the law.
Mr Kyle told The Times: 'I have always been clear that no changes will be made until we are absolutely confident that we have a practical plan that delivers on each of our objectives.
'We want to provide a solution allowing both sectors to thrive, and this is the message I reiterated when I met with Bjorn earlier this week.'
Ulvaeus is the co-founder of Pophouse, the Swedish entertainment firm behind the band's hit hologram show Abba Voyage.
The show, which has sold more than three million tickets, has been on stage in a purpose-built arena in east London since 2022.
It features life-sized avatars of the four Swedish pop stars, created through computer-generated imagery using their likenesses, alongside a live band.
The shows generated more than £103 million in revenue in 2023 and is leading others in the industry to look at recreating digital hologram shows for other artists.
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