A coalition of nearly 800 creators, including high-profile names like Cyndi Lauper and Scarlett Johansson, is demanding AI companies stop using their work to train models without permission, as first reported by Billboard. The public push, titled with the direct accusation “Stealing Isn’t Innovation,” frames the practice not as progress, but as simple theft, and insists that licensing is the only ethical path forward.
- Drawing the battle lines: The effort is spearheaded by the Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition backed by the RIAA and the National Music Publishers’ Association. In an open letter, the signatories contend that some of the world’s biggest tech companies are building multi-billion dollar platforms on the backs of creators, declaring, “Stealing our work is not innovation. It’s not progress. It’s theft – plain and simple.”
- Collaborate or litigate: The campaign highlights a clear split in the AI industry, with some companies choosing cooperation while others face legal challenges. AI music platform Udio has pivoted to collaboration, striking licensing deals with Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Merlin, while its rival Suno remains entangled in litigation from major labels and rights organizations.
The campaign escalates the conflict over copyrighted training data, teeing up a legal and ethical battle over "fair use" that could fundamentally reshape the economics of generative AI. But this isn't the only front in the war over AI training data. The fight mirrors a previous open letter from hundreds of Hollywood creators to the White House and ongoing lawsuits from authors like George R.R. Martin against OpenAI. Meanwhile, tech giants have been actively lobbying for lighter regulation as other firms, like Anthropic AI, have chosen to settle similar author lawsuits out of court.