Irish musicians and composers held a briefing at Leinster House today to demand legal protections against the use of artificial intelligence [1].
The effort seeks to prevent AI models from training on artistic works without consent, which advocates say threatens the livelihoods of creative professionals [2].
Danny O'Donoghue, the frontman of The Script, joined songwriters and composers to raise awareness about the impact of AI on artistic careers [1]. O'Donoghue said intellectual property theft is happening on an "industrial scale" thanks to artificial intelligence [2].
The briefing served as a push for a Private Members’ Bill designed to protect the copyright of Irish artists [1]. Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Sinn Féin), a TD, said legislation is needed to protect the copyright of Irish artists in the era of artificial intelligence [1].
The bill is scheduled for debate in the Dáil this evening [1]. The musicians said that current frameworks are insufficient to stop AI companies from exploiting their work without compensation or permission [2].
The group briefed lawmakers on how AI-generated content can mimic specific artistic styles, potentially replacing human creators in the commercial market [1]. By securing support for the bill, the artists hope to establish a legal precedent for consent, and remuneration in the digital age [2].
“"Intellectual property theft is happening on an 'industrial scale' thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI)."”
This movement reflects a growing global tension between generative AI development and intellectual property rights. If the Dáil passes the bill, Ireland could become an early adopter of strict AI copyright protections, potentially influencing European Union standards on how training data is sourced and compensated.
