Australian creator groups send clear message to Government: Hold the line

Organisations representing Australia’s creative and content industries across the music, screen, literature, publishing, visual arts and news media sectors are sending a clear message to the Australian Government: hold the line.

Reports this week that government has indicated willingness to reopen copyright law as part of negotiations with AI companies seeking major investment commitments in Australia are deeply concerning. Australia’s decision last October to reject a copyright exception for artificial intelligence platforms was decisive and world-leading. Other governments are now following that lead.

The creative works of Australian artists, songwriters, composers, recording artists, authors, writers, filmmakers, producers and journalists are not a bargaining chip in a trade negotiation. They are the foundation of a $68 billion industry and are Australia’s cultural identity in international markets. Crucially, they are the intellectual property of individual Australians who have not consented to their use and have not been paid.

When Australia rejected the text and data mining exception last October, it sent a clear signal: Australia will not prioritise AI companies at the expense of its creative and cultural sector.

Licensing frameworks for AI and creative content are not theoretical. Deals have already been brokered between AI platforms and rights holders, including Australian rightsholders, across music, news and other creative sectors, demonstrating the model is workable and the value is real. The obligation now falls on those same platforms to extend that framework to all rights holders in every market in which they operate, including Australia.

We stand ready to enter deals with AI companies. There are deals to be done but they are licensing deals, not a copyright carve-out.

Signed

Australasian Music Publishers Association (AMPAL), Australasian Performing Right Association and Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS), Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), Australia New Zealand Screen Association (ANZSA) , Australian Publishers Association (APA), Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA), Australian Society of Authors (ASA), Australian Writers Guild (AWG), Copyright Agency, Foxtel Group, Free TV Australia, National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA), News Limited, Nine, Screen Producers Australia (SPA), Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)