Hollywood Guilds Rally Behind AI Regulation Bill
Leading Hollywood guilds unite in support of Rep. Adam Schiff’s proposed AI legislation to enforce transparency and protect copyright.
Key Hollywood guilds have come together to voice their support for a new bill proposed by Rep. Adam Schiff aimed at bringing regulation and accountability to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry. The Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act, which Schiff introduced amid his campaign for California’s junior Senate seat, seeks to address concerns over the use of copyrighted materials in AI technologies. The unified support from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the Writers Guild of America (WGA), and the Directors Guild of America (DGA) marks a significant moment in the industry’s approach to AI.
Duncan Crabtree-Ireland of SAG-AFTRA highlighted the critical need to protect human-generated creative content, asserting the bill as a crucial step in ensuring that technological advancements benefit society. Under the proposed legislation, companies would face a $5,000 penalty for using copyrighted works in AI systems without proper disclosure. This move, while seemingly modest in financial terms, represents a broader effort to instill a culture of transparency and ethical use of AI in creative processes.
Adam Schiff’s initiative arrives at a pivotal time for the entertainment industry, which has seen a growing unease over AI's implications for creative and below-the-line workers. Last year’s industry strikes, led by WGA and SAG-AFTRA, brought AI to the forefront of labor discussions, culminating in agreements that included protections around the use of AI. Schiff, representing a district rich in studio presence, has positioned the bill as addressing a core concern for his Hollywood constituency.
Guild leaders have been quick to endorse Schiff’s proposal, with WGA West's Meredith Stiehm and WGA East’s Lisa Takeuchi Cullen praising the bill for its promise of transparency and safeguards for creators. DGA’s Lesli Linka Glatter and IATSE's Matt Loeb echoed these sentiments, underlining the importance of protecting intellectual property and ensuring fair compensation for entertainment workers in the age of AI.
This legislative effort is part of a broader push, including initiatives at both the federal and state levels, to regulate the burgeoning impact of AI on various sectors and to balance the pace of technological innovation with the need for ethical oversight. By rallying the support of Hollywood’s major guilds, the bill underscores a collective commitment to protecting the rights and livelihoods of creators in the digital era.
As AI continues to reshape the landscape of entertainment, with backing from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, WGA, and DGA, the proposed legislation aims to protect creative content and ensure that technological advancements serve to enhance, rather than undermine, human creativity and rights.