Nearly 800 artists, writers, and performers have signed an open letter criticizing artificial intelligence companies for training their systems on copyrighted work without authorization.
The campaign, called “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” counts musicians Cyndi Lauper, Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Hudson, LeAnn Rimes, and bands R.E.M., OneRepublic and MGMT among its signatories. Actress Scarlett Johansson and authors including Jodi Picoult also joined the effort.
The campaign was launched by the Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition formed in 2023 by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Music Publishers’ Association.
The signatories argue that some of the biggest tech firms, many backed by private equity and other funders, “are using American creators’ work to build AI platforms without authorization or regard for copyright law.”
“Artists, writers, and creators of all kinds are banding together with a simple message: Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”
The open letter stresses that licensing deals offer a viable path forward. “A better way exists – through licensing deals and partnerships, some AI companies have taken the responsible, ethical route to obtaining the content and materials they wish to use. It is possible to have it all.”
“Artists, writers, and creators of all kinds are banding together with a simple message: Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”
Stealing Isn’t Innovation
“We can have advanced, rapidly developing AI and ensure creators’ rights are respected.
The campaign arrives as the music industry has started negotiating licensing deals with AI companies.
In October, Udio, which was once sued alongside rival Suno for copyright infringement, reached a settlement with Universal Music Group, agreeing to “collaborate on an innovative, new commercial music creation, consumption, and streaming experience”.
Shortly after, Udio struck a similar agreement with Warner Music Group, resolving the copyright infringement litigation between the two.
Earlier this week (January 20), Udio secured another partner, independent music licensing group Merlin. The agreement allows Udio to develop AI systems using music from Merlin members who choose to participate, with compensation flowing back to those labels and artists.
Warner Music settled its portion of the litigation with Suno in November, but UMG and Sony Music continue to pursue their cases against that company. Denmark’s Koda and Germany’s GEMA are also suing Suno.
“A better way exists – through licensing deals and partnerships, some AI companies have taken the responsible, ethical route to obtaining the content and materials they wish to use. It is possible to have it all.”
Stealing Isn’t Innovation
Amid the influx of music industry partners, Udio started hiring for a Head of Artist Partnerships, which the company says will be in charge of relationships with “key stakeholders” across the music industry.
The Human Artistry Campaign, which launched the Stealing Isn’t Innovation campaign, said in a press release obtained by Billboard: “Profit-hungry technology companies, including those among the richest in the world as well as private equity-backed ventures, have copied a massive amount of creative content online without authorization or payment to those who created it.”
“American creators are being sidelined and soon won’t be able to afford to continue producing original works if AI developers are permitted to continue stealing them without authorization to produce AI-made copies that compete directly with the original.”
Music Business Worldwide
