Artists, illustrators, and photographers have often led the way in adopting new technology. Concerns creators like Harry Woodgate have about AI programs (“It’s the Opposite of Art”: Why Illustrators Are Mad at AI, Jan. 23) that “rely entirely on the pirated intellectual property of countless artists, photographers, illustrators and other rights holders” must be taken care of.
Evidence recently published by the House of Lords, gathered from the first-hand experience of visual artists, galleries and experts, demonstrates that the government’s proposed copyright exception will have far-reaching damaging consequences.
The UK’s £116bn cultural and creative industries have the chance to be a world leader in developing and sustaining talent in emerging technologies, but the government must ensure artists’ rights are protected. We must recognize the critical importance of strong copyright law and fair remuneration, not only to protect individual artists, but also to safeguard the UK’s cultural and creative industries as a whole.
Christian Zimmermann
CEO, Design and Artists Copyright Society
