Two years ago in this very month, the Writers Guild of America initiated a strike over several important matters, one of them being groundbreaking AI protections to secure our writings and completed works. This struggle lasted six months, filled with unwavering unity, picketing, and widespread public backing – from fellow labor groups, politicians, and even Elon Musk. It wasn’t until the studios recognized our demands that they finally agreed.
Today, various professionals in the realms of writing, journalism, and creativity are confronting an unprecedented existential challenge to their fields from the agendas of Silicon Valley. These tech corporations have been advocating for changes in copyright laws that would allow them unpaid access to utilize movies, TV shows, articles, books, and more for training their models. OpenAI labels this as “the freedom to learn,” but in New Jersey, it’s simply referred to as theft.
About three weeks back, Shira Perlmutter, head of the U.S. Copyright Office, was terminated from her position following the publication of a report on Generative AI Training. This document promoted upholding existing copyright laws and represented a hurdle for Sam Altman’s ambitious plan to widen the Fair Use doctrine into a large-scale exploitation of copyrighted materials dating back several decades. In simpler terms, it was made clear that tech firms are prohibited from incorporating stolen intellectual property in their models.
In the interim, numerous legal disputes involving OpenAI (ChatGPT), Anthropic (Claude), Google (Gemini), and Meta (Llama) are progressing through the judicial system. If a judge who is not inclined to stretch the interpretation of fair use were to preside over these cases, these companies could be held accountable for billions in alleged theft, with additional substantial damages possible. In some instances, they might even risk financial ruin.
However, similar events unfolded with Napster back in 1999. The platform initially offered free file-sharing services, allowing individuals worldwide to download entire music collections in mere seconds. This revolutionary application of technology seemed almost too good to be true. And it was. Napster faced legal action for copyright infringement and racketeering, which ultimately led to its demise.
Ever since then, it’s become common for major tech platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and even OpenAI until recently, to strike deals with studios, publishers, and labels for using their copyrighted content. While these arrangements have often been problematic and exploitative, the dismissal of Shira Perlmutter signals a shift towards something far more sinister.
Silicon Valley companies are seeking government approval to infringe on copyrights, a move they acknowledge could undermine numerous professions, including mine, for their own financial gain, disregarding any potential negative impacts.
For screenwriters, they typically assign the copyright of their original scripts to studios as part of a deal, receiving advantages such as healthcare, pension plans, and residuals in return. This fundamental practice has been crucial in supporting writers throughout the ups and downs of this profession. However, if copyright protections were eliminated, it could potentially trigger the erosion of the entire value proposition that both current and past union members have tirelessly worked to preserve within the film and television industry.
In April, Sam Altman shared a discussion with Chris Anderson, TED’s leader, who commented, “From a superficial perspective, this (ChatGPT) seems to be intellectual property infringement.” The crowd cheered until Sam retorted, “Keep clapping if you like. Enjoy.” Later, Sam made a more telling statement, “We must find a new economic model for rewarding creative work. I’m not sure what the specifics of that will be.
As a gamer, I get it that some folks might argue the copyright system is fine as it is. Yet, companies like OpenAI seem unwilling to discuss or pay for consent, which leaves creators high and dry. So, when Sam talks about “the economics for compensating creative output,” I can’t help but think they’re enjoying the benefits without sharing the burden.
The solution will always be the same. Stop stealing writers work and follow the law.
Larry J. Cohen and Sarah Montana are the joint leaders of the Writers Guild of America East Artificial Intelligence Committee. Currently, Cohen, a writer, producer, and director, holds a position on the WGAE council. Similarly, Montana, a writer and public speaker, also serves on the WGAE council.
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2025-05-29 17:24