The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has today
published the Government response to the Report on creator
remuneration from our predecessor Committee in the last
Parliament.
The Report, published in
April, concluded that many successful musicians, actors,
writers and visual artists were struggling to make a living due
to gaps in copyright protection, a lack of support for
freelancers and unpredictable returns from music streaming.
The response does not commit to the recommended private copying
scheme (which industry bodies referred to in evidence as the
‘Smart Fund') to ensure creators are compensated when people copy
or move content such as songs to or between their devices but
does state that ways to resolve loss of royalties will be
considered.
On the subject of strengthening the rights of freelancers and
those on contracts, the response commits to exploring the case
for a Freelance Commissioner and points to the provisions in the
Employment Rights Bill, introduced to Parliament last month.
In response to calls for more to be done to ensure creators are
compensated when their works are used by artificial intelligence
systems, the Government says it wants to strike the ‘right
balance', ‘[intends] to proceed carefully but with a degree of
urgency in this area and hope to announce next steps soon'.
Chair of the CMS Committee, Dame MP, said:
“The Report from the last Parliament has put the subject of
fairness for our creatives firmly on the agenda and it is now up
to the new Government to address gaps in copyright protections
and support that are clearly leaving many struggling to get by.
The rise of artificial intelligence has had a significant impact
on the creative industries across the board. The new Committee
will be continuing to explore how such emerging technologies can
be harnessed to help rather than hinder the ability of creators
to enjoy a successful career.”
The Committee will be examining the ethical use of artificial
intelligence in film-making as part of itsBritish film and high-end
TV inquiry which was announced yesterday.
