AI firms trained on Australian artists without payment, warns music body
Global music publishers warn Australia against weakening copyright laws under pressure from tech companies.
At a glance
- AI systems have been trained on Australian artists' work without payment, according to music publishers
- The International Confederation of Music Publishers represents Sony, Warner, Universal and thousands of independent publishers
- Australia is reportedly the only country considering weakening copyright laws despite approaches from multiple nations
The International Confederation of Music Publishers has claimed that artificial intelligence systems have already been trained on works by Australian artists including Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave without compensation. The organisation, which represents major record labels and independent publishers globally, has warned the Australian government against weakening copyright protections.
According to the music body, Australia appears to be the only country among dozens approached by technology firms that is considering relaxing its copyright laws. The publishers' group characterised the pressure from tech companies as "strong-arming" the government.
Why it matters
The dispute reflects broader tensions between technology companies seeking to use creative works for AI training and artists and publishers seeking compensation and copyright protection.
Original reporting
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.