From left to right: Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), American Society for Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL) CEO James Silverberg, Congresswoman and Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) board member Cindy O’Connor, Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger, Congressman and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) at a roundtable focused on the impact of generative artificial intelligence on small content creators.

Welcome to another edition of AG in Action, where we highlight the latest events and advocacy efforts undertaken by the Authors Guild staff. From panel discussions to congressional roundtables and digital convenings, our team is always working to protect the rights and interests of authors, freelance journalists, and creative professionals.

Balancing Risk and Protection for Freelance Journalists  

On March 15, General Counsel Cheryl Davis participated in a panel discussion for the Institute of Independent Journalists alongside Freelancers Union Executive Director Rafael Espinal and freelance journalist Mythili Sampathkumar. Davis provided insights into the legal risks faced by independent journalists, such as libel/defamation, invasion of privacy, and unintentional infliction of emotional distress. She emphasized the importance of insurance policies and retaining copyright in freelancers’ work, especially when articles can be expanded and adapted into different media.

Congressional Roundtable on AI’s Impact on Small Content Creators  

Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger traveled to Washington, D.C., on March 21 for a House Small Business Committee discussion on the impact of generative artificial intelligence on independent creators who own small businesses. Participants included Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), American Society for Collective Rights Licensing (ASCRL) CEO James Silverberg, Congresswoman and ranking member of the House Small Business Committee Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) board member Cindy O’Connor, Congressman and Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA).

As Congress works to develop AI policy, the Authors Guild continues to take the lead on advocating for legislation necessary to protect authors and other freelance creators in the age of AI, including:  

• Requiring AI-generated content to be labeled so consumers know what they are buying
• Transparency in training data, so we can enforce licensing
• Right of publicity to prevent unauthorized use of an author’s name in connection with dissemination of AI-generated material
• Clarifying that training on copyrighted works is not fair use under copyright law
• Granting the ability to negotiate collectively with the AI companies for purposes of licensing collectively

Today, Ranking Member @NydiaVelazquez and Caucus Vice Chair @RepTedLieu hosted a roundtable focused on the impact of generative artificial intelligence on small content creators.

As Congress works to craft AI policy, it is critical that small businesses have a seat at the table. pic.twitter.com/h0PkrxZgKb

— House Committee on Small Business Democrats (@HSBCDems) March 21, 2024

Connecting Artists and Creative Workers  

On March 21, Director of Policy and Advocacy Umair Kazi participated in Advancing Artists and Creative Workers, a workshop hosted by the National Arts Policy Alliance (NAPA). The event aimed to explore opportunities to build shared power for creative workers through improved public policies and research. The event focused on envisioning a long-term power-building effort, and how to channel shared opportunities and challenges for artists and creative workers into potential pathways for collective action.