700+ Creators Sign Letter on AI Copyright Use

Prominent Hollywood figures, including actresses Scarlett Johansson and Cate Blanchett, "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan, and the band R.E.M., have joined more than 700 artists, writers, and creators in signing an open letter that accuses major technology companies of using copyrighted works without permission to train artificial intelligence models.

The letter, released as part of the "Stealing Isn't Innovation" campaign organized by the Human Artistry Campaign, a coalition of creators, unions, and industry groups, calls for tech firms to pursue ethical partnerships and licensing agreements instead of unauthorized access to creative content. Signatories also include actors Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Olivia Munn, musicians such as Aimee Mann, MGMT, Common, Cyndi Lauper, and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran, as well as author Jonathan Franzen. Other notable supporters encompass singers Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, and Questlove; authors George Saunders, Jodi Picoult, and Roxane Gay; and representatives from organizations like the Writers Guild of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, SAG-AFTRA, and the NFL Players Association.

The statement emphasizes the value of...