Critical questions were raised regarding the future of copyright and collective management, in view of the rapid developments that AI is bringing to the cultural and creative industry with the continued non transparent and illegal use of protected content. Outstanding Greek and foreign speakers referred to recent developments in intellectual property law at the international and European level, as well as the existing challenges for the collective management sector, especially in the era of AI.
The speakers presented a wide range of proposals on this issue, which include the creation of a 'residual' right for creators and artists from the use of their works for the training of GPAI models, to new legislative initiatives and regulations aimed at mitigating weaknesses and gaps in the existing legal framework.
A key point is considered to be that AI service providers be legally forced to obtain license from CMOs and rightholders for the use of protected content, so that creators and artists receive remuneration for the use of their works. The community of organizations is also waiting the results regarding the cases of the two lawsuits filed against OPEN AI and Suno AI by GEMA.
It is worth noting that the second draft of the Code of Practice for the EU AI Act was published on 20/12/2024, while the deadline for the final draft expires on 2 May 2025. Rightsholders groups participating in the relevant working group continue to express their concerns about this second draft, which does not provide for the necessary measures and commitments for substantive compliance and transparency on the part of GPAI models.
Speakers included WIPO Deputy Director Sylvie Forbin, Commission DG Connect Deputy Director Sabina Tsakova, GESAC Director General Adriana Moscoso, University of Amsterdam Emeritus Professor Bernt Hugenholtz, AEPO-ARTIS Secretary General Ioan Kaes, University of Leuven Professor Alain Strowel, IFRRO Director of Legal & European Affairs Anthi Akritidou and many others. The chairing and coordination of the Session 2 "AI & Copyright" by University of Nicosia Professor Irini Stamatoudi was exemplary.