AI Taskforce – Together we track and shape the future

Human creativity
Over the past year, there has been a significant increase in AI-related issues. At BumaStemra, we use the following principles for developing successful AI policies: 

• Promotion of human creativity 

• Consent, compensation and credits when using copyrighted works 

• Transparency about the use of AI 

• Global collaboration and consistency within the music industry 

• AI presents promising new opportunities, but there are many concerns about protecting human creativity and the current large-scale unauthorised use of protected repertoire to train AI tools without any compensation. 

Many AI tools rely on training datasets that include copyrighted works. The use of these tools raises fundamental questions regarding copyright especially when the training datasets contain copyrighted content obtained through data mining. 

In response to these developments, BumaStemra has exercised its right to opt out. From now on, entities who want to use BumaStemra’s repertoire for text and data mining for AI development purposes will need to obtain prior consent from BumaStemra. This measure aims to ensure that writers, composers and music publishers represented by BumaStemra receive fair remuneration. 

By exercising its opt-out right, BumaStemra seeks to protect the exclusive rights of creators by requiring prior consent for text and data mining activities. 

This approach by BumaStemra is not intended to hinder the progress of AI. On the contrary, we recognise the enormous potential of AI as a creative resource for musicians. By implementing this opt-out provision, BumaStemra aims to create a sustainable and ethical balance between the rights of the creators and publishers it represents and the ambitions of AI industry players.    

AI Taskforce
AI impacts everyone in the music industry and at BumaStemra. It affects every aspect of our business. The AI Taskforce was established on that basis. Our Taskforce consists of representatives from various teams and has been set up to respond to the rapid developments in AI and give them the necessary attention. This includes two main areas: 

• Tracking and describing the effects of AI on our industry and on BumaStemra 

• Investigating the strategic opportunities and risks of AI for our industry and on BumaStemra 

• Further questions include: 

• Under what conditions would BumaStemra be willing to license parties that use AI tools to generate music or provide AI-generated music? 

• What is our policy regarding parties who do not wish to comply with BumaStemra’s conditions? 

• Where are the limitations of the current legislation, and how can we improve the legal position for creators in relation to AI? 

• The conversation about AI is not just taking place within BumaStemra but also  with our members, the Council of Rights Owners, various sister organisations and external experts.  

AI and copyright   

When works are created using AI, it can be challenging to determine who the copyright creator is as it may involve a collaboration between humans and AI. Music that is 100% AI generated is not subject to copyright. The work must be a result of creative human activity to be protected by copyright. Copyright can only be claimed by a human being. Copyright protection is not about the quality of the work, but about human creativity and the unique choices they make. Together we track and shape the future.