UK Music marks World IP Day by signing up to Human Artistry Campaign and vows to meet the “Opportunities And Challenges” of the AI revolution

26 April 2023 - Press release

UK Music is marking World Intellectual Property Day (April 26) by signing up to the Human Artistry Campaign, which sets out key principles on the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) to support human creativity. 

World Intellectual Property Day - which takes place each year on April 26 - celebrates creators and the contribution that intellectual property (IP) makes to a thriving music and creative scene. 

As the collective voice of the UK music industry, UK Music is marking the day by signing up to the key principles outlined in the newly launched Human Artistry Campaign. 

Unveiled in March, at the South by Southwest (SXSW) music and tech festival in Texas, the Human Artistry Campaign is a new coalition that aims to meet the challenges posed by the AI revolution. 

The campaign outlines a series of fundamental principles for the responsible use of AI to “support human creativity and with respect to the inimitable value of human artistry and expression”. 

The principles acknowledge that technology has long empowered human expression and that AI will be part of that ongoing evolution. However, it highlights how that works created by humans will always play an essential role in our lives. 

The set of seven principles outlines how creators need to be assured that the use of copyrighted works, as well as the use of voices and likenesses of professional performers, will need to be properly licensed and authorised. 

There is also a signal to governments that no new copyright or other IP exemptions should be created to allow AI developers to exploit creators without permission or compensation. 

Full details on the seven core principles in the Human Artistry Campaign can be found here. 

UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said: 

“The AI revolution will have a transformative impact on the music industry – our task is to meet the huge challenges it presents in some areas, while making the most of the potential opportunities it could offer in others. 

“As we navigate these issues, it’s vital that our approach is underpinned by clear and consistent principles, not just here in the UK but globally. So we are delighted to sign up to the Human Artistry Campaign, which sets out core principles for how we ensure AI technologies are developed in a way that supports human culture and artistry rather than eroding it. 

"The challenges presented by AI exist on a global level – and so joining this international coalition is an important step towards ensuring we can grow the AI sector in a responsible way, while also respecting creator rights and supporting human creativity. 

"The UK has a world-leading music industry, and our global success is down to the strong copyright and IP frameworks we have in place. Developments in AI should not change that - and so on World Intellectual Property Day, it’s important to recognise the importance of our IP framework and renew our commitment to the strongest copyright protections possible."

www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/ipday