Paul McCartney has called on the British government not to make changes to copyright laws. The musician said the changes would allow artificial intelligence (AI) companies to rip off artists.
The government is consulting on whether to allow tech firms to use copyrighted material to help train AI models unless the creators explicitly opt out.
McCartney told the BBC that this would make it harder for creators to retain control of their work and would undermine the UK's creative industries.
"There are young guys, young girls, coming up who write a wonderful song but don't own it and have nothing to do with it. And anyone who wants to can just take it down," said the 82-year-old former Beatle.
"The truth is, the money goes somewhere. When it hits the streaming platforms, somebody gets it and it has to be the person who created it. It shouldn't be some tech giant," the star said.
Britain's centre-left Labour Party government has said it wants to make the UK a world leader in AI. In December, it announced a consultation on how copyright law could "enable creators and rights holders to exercise control and seek remuneration for the use of their works for AI training".
Publishers, artists' organisations and media companies have joined together in the Coalition for Creative Rights in the Arts to oppose the weakening of copyright protection.
"We are the people, you are the government. You have to protect us. That's your job," McCartney said. "So, you know, if you're pushing a bill, make sure you protect the creative thinkers, the creative artists, or you're not going to have them." | BGNES
