Amid growing backlash from the entertainment industry over the use of AI to copy and mimic the voices and work of actors and musicians without their permission, a new bill called the NO FAKES (Nurturing Originals, Nurturing the Arts, Keeping Entertainment Safe) Act has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.
Yahoo Finance reporter Jennifer Schonberger joins Catalysts to give an update on bills lawmakers are pushing to regulate the use of AI that affects the film and music industries.
To learn more about expert insights and the latest market trends, click here to watch this full episode of Catalysts.
This post Nicholas Jacobino
Video Transcript
While AI can be a productivity boost for some, it can be a headache for others.
Last week, Scarlett Johansson accused Open AI of using a voice that resembles her for a new chatbot.
Now Hollywood and the music industry are lobbying Washington for new rules to protect artists.
A bipartisan group of senators is responding with new legislation.
join.
Now, Jennifer Schommer, Jen, here to give you the latest update on that.
Good morning. I heard from a senator's aide that senators are introducing a bill in June to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in the film and music industries after seeing artists and actors' voices and likenesses being reproduced without their permission.
The Stop Counterfeiting Act, aimed at fostering originals, cultivating the arts, and keeping entertainment safe, is a bipartisan proposal that would ban individuals and companies from using AI to create unauthorized digital replicas of their likeness or voice. “We need to come up with some way to create parameters and guardrails,” musician Sheryl Crow told me.
Some artists have had their voices used after they have already passed away.
There are also cases where artists who are completely unrelated to what has been announced are used.
That's scary.
The bill's sponsor, Senator Chris Coons, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar, Thom Tillis and Marsha Blackburn, have been working with the music and film industries to hammer out the details.
Specific areas still under review include whether the legislation would supersede certain state laws already in place.
How long should limitations be placed on the licensing and transfer of digital replicas of artworks, and how long should posthumous rights last?
The draft bill would extend permission for digital reproduction to the heirs of the deceased for 70 years.
This is modeled on the terminology of copyright protection.
But some in the film industry want Year Zero, and some in the music industry want it to go on forever.
While the film industry supports protecting artists and digital replicas, it has warned about restricting First Amendment rights and censoring content of speech.
Currently, legislation to protect the music and movie industries from AI is being closely watched by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and while no specific legislation has been decided yet, I have heard that if one is decided, it will likely be attached to a bill that is sure to pass the Senate.
