Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett, REM and Jodie Pickult are among hundreds of Hollywood stars, musicians and writers who are backing a new campaign accusing AI companies of “theft” of their work.
The ‘Stealing Is Not Innovation’ campaign was launched on Thursday with the support of around 800 creative professionals and bands. The campaign includes a statement accusing tech companies of using the work of American creators to “build AI platforms without permission or in defiance of copyright law.”
He added: “Artists, writers and creators of all kinds are united by a simple message: Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft. Plain and simple.”
The statement urges AI companies to pursue licensing deals and partnerships with creative industries, and recognizes companies that have taken this path. OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, has signed deals with content owners such as Disney and Guardian, and Warner Music Group has signed a licensing agreement with AI music generator Suno.
However, copyright is one of the most contentious issues within AI, as the models that power chatbots like ChatGPT and image generators like Grok Imagine rely on vast amounts of data pulled from the open web to help craft responses. Creative experts argue that tech companies should get permission before using such materials, and should be paid if they agree.
OpenAI and other AI companies argue that their use of materials available online falls under “fair use,” a U.S. legal doctrine that allows the use of copyrighted works without the owner’s permission under certain circumstances. As of last year, dozens of lawsuits had been filed in the United States over AI and copyright issues.
Ms Johansson, who was dragged into the AI controversy in 2024 after OpenAI’s voice assistant used a likeness of her voice, said she was “shocked, angry and in disbelief” at the move. OpenAI has since removed the audio from ChatGPT.
Other signatories to the statement include actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Breaking Bad author Vince Gilligan and singer Cyndi Lauper. Last year, Gilligan described AI as “the world’s most expensive, energy-intensive plagiarism machine.”
The Steal Is Not Innovation push is being organized by the Human Artistry Campaign, whose supporters include the Writers Guild of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, and SAG-AFTRA, the actors union that went on strike in 2023 over some of the use of AI.
In the UK, the government has come under fire for proposing that AI companies should be able to use copyrighted works without first obtaining artists’ permission, unless the artist indicates they wish to “opt out” of the process. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said this month the government was seeking a “reset” of these plans through a formal review expected to be published in March.
