SOCAN and other industry leaders recently spoke before the House of Commons heritage committee, encouraging the government to address how generative AI tools are using music without permission. It was suggested that the government require AI companies to be more transparent about exactly what copyrighted music they are using.. This transparency will help rights holders identify when their music is being used, and allow us to move to a proper licensing system for AI, so that creators are rewarded for their work.
As SOCAN CEO Jennifer Brown said before the Committee, “Without such transparency, rights holders are unable to negotiate on a level playing field, and cannot prove when their works are used.” She added that a successful approach would “lead to a vibrant licensing market, where the benefits of AI are shared with those who are vital to its development.”
This presentation was part of our ongoing work, alongside other organizations, to ensure that the voices of music creators are heard, and their rights are respected, as technology continues to evolve. In pursuit of that goal, SOCAN and other industry signatories have previously outlined core principles that they urge the Canadian government to adopt in any AI regulatory or policy framework.
Please visit SOCAN Academy to learn about our AI Principles. They’re essential for fostering a fair, transparent, and sustainable environment for Canadian music creators as AI technology evolves.
You can read a Toronto Star article reporting on the presentation here, via the Canadian Press website.