Asked about the BBC, the 82-year-old formerly criticized the Labor government’s project.
AFP
Two of the largest icons in British music, Paul McCartney and Elton John, called on the British government on Sunday to better “protect” artists against artificial intelligence (AI), when the executive envisages a reform of the law of ‘author.
Asked about the BBC, the ex-Beatle again criticized the Labor government project to introduce changes to the law on copyright. Among them, “an exception to copyright” to cause AI models for commercial purposes.
The project would also offer creators the possibility of “reserving their rights”.
Paul McCartney, 82, argues that with such reform, the artists will lose control over their production. Concretely, he says, “young people will write a beautiful song but they will not (will be) owners”. Worse, “anyone can appropriate it,” he denounces.
“The truth is that money will be fine somewhere. Someone will be paid so why wouldn’t it be the guy who wrote “Yesterday”? “, He questioned.
And to add: “If you present a bill, be sure to protect thinkers and artists, otherwise you will not have them on your side”. “We are the people, you are the government. You are supposed to protect us. It’s your job, ”he said.
In November 2023, McCartney and Ringo Starr, the surviving members of the Beatles, had used the AI to extract John Lennon’s voice from an unfinished song several decades, entitled “Now and then”.
-“I think AI is great and that it can do a lot of great things,” said Paul McCartney. However, it “should not strip the creators. It makes no sense ”.
“Competitive” music
Same tone on the side of another pop legend, Elton John. In the columns of “Sunday Times”, the 77 -year -old artist believes that the government’s reform project “will dilute” and “threaten” the income of young artists.
“This will allow large global technological companies to access artists for free and easily to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music,” he said.
He claims that all “the actors of the music world are categorically opposed” to the reform.
The government has announced that it would take advantage of its consultation, which takes place until February 25, to explore the main points of the debate, in particular the way in which the creators will be able to obtain a license and be remunerated for the use of their equipment.
Asked about these projects during an interview on the BBC, the Minister of Finance, Rachel Reeves, assured “wanting to support the artists” and doing everything “so that copyright is respected”.
And to add that “without a rigorous and solid protection of copyright (…), the place of the United Kingdom on the world scene, as a leader in the field of arts and popular culture, will be seriously threatened ”.
(afp)
