The industry emphasizes the critical need for transparency in the development of a fair and secure AI ecosystem to prevent generative AI models from evolving without respecting creators’ rights.
The book industry, along with the broader cultural community, underscores that copyright is an exclusive right of human creators and should not be extended to AI-generated products without permission. Existing copyright legislation safeguards human creativity and originality by requiring skill and judgment in obtaining copyright for a work.
Addressing concerns beyond AI, the book industry calls for swift legislative action in Canada to close existing loopholes that deprive rights holders of legitimate revenues, particularly in certain educational institutions. The Coalition for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and international book federations support this priority, expressing frustration that Canada is not meeting its international obligations to authors.
The industry awaits action from the Minister of Canadian Heritage, Pascale St-Onge, and the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, who committed to amending the Copyright Act. The proposed amendments aim to ensure that authors and publishers receive fair compensation for the use of their published works, aligning with recommendations from a House of Commons report.
Stakeholders, including Access Copyright, Association nationale des éditeurs de livres (ANEL), Association of Canadian Publishers (ACP), and others, stress the urgency of legislative reform to protect the rights and revenues of creators in the evolving landscape of AI and copyright. The industry’s commitment to responsible AI development and copyright protection aligns with the global conversation on balancing technological advancements with ethical and legal considerations.