Björn chats with PM Alexander De Croo - Brussels

 CISAC President and ABBA founder Björn Ulvaeus brought the voice of creators to the heart of the EU today, meeting with Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the start of Belgium’s EU Presidency to discuss the vital need to safeguard creators’ rights in EU’s proposed AI regulation.

https://www.cisac.org/Newsroom/news-releases/cisac-president-bjorn-ulvaeus-meets-belgian-prime-minister-alexander-de-croo

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Björn chats with PM Alexander De Croo - Brussels

nstagram alexanderdecroo

¿Cuál es tu canción favorita de ABBA?
Björn Ulvaeus consiguió decenas de éxitos mundiales con ABBA. Ahora está comprometido con los derechos de los compositores en Europa. Esta mañana tuve una conversación fascinante con él sobre la música y el impacto de la inteligencia artificial en el mundo de la música. Es importante que la música siga siendo propiedad de quienes la crean. Un debate importante que tendremos en los próximos meses desde nuestra presidencia europea.

¿Qué cerveza belga le di? Waterloo, por supuesto.

instagram alexanderdecroo
Wat is jullie favoriete ABBA nummer?
Björn Ulvaeus scoorde met ABBA tientallen wereldhits. Nu zet hij zich in voor de rechten van liedjesschrijvers in Europa. Vanochtend had ik met hem een boeiend gesprek over muziek en de impact van artificiële intelligentie op de muziekwereld. Het is belangrijk dat muziek eigendom blijft van wie het maakt. Een belangrijk debat dat we de komende maanden voeren vanuit ons Europees voorzitterschap.
Welk Belgisch Bier ik hem meegaf? Waterloo natuurlijk.
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Et vous, quel est votre tube préféré d’Abba ?
Björn Ulvaeus, membre du célèbre groupe, a connu un succès mondial avec Abba et ses dizaines de hits. À présent, il défend les droits des auteurs-compositeurs en Europe. Ce matin, nous avons eu une conversation passionnante sur la musique et l'impact de l'intelligence artificielle sur cet univers. Une œuvre musicale doit rester la propriété de son créateur. C'est un débat important qui s’invitera prochainement au programme de notre présidence européenne.
Quelle bière belge je lui ai offerte ? Une Waterloo, pardi !

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2fTr8CoCk4/

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CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus meets Belgian Prime minister Alexander De Croo on music, technology and copyright

24 January 2024 - Press release

CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus met with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to discuss the huge impact of AI on the creative economy and the need for smart regulation by policy makers to safeguard creators’ rights.

The CISAC President and ABBA founder called for sustained support for copyright and the protection of creators by the European Union as Belgium takes the six-month presidency of the EU. 

AI Regulation: a priority for the Belgian Presidency

Ulvaeus thanked the Prime Minister for Belgium’s important EU programme, which includes projects focused on intellectual property rights. At a key moment in the debate over copyright and AI, Belgium will also be overseeing discussions to finalise the text of the EU AI act. In particular, Ulvaeus urged the establishment of proper transparency principles in the EU AI Act and to require AI operators to adhere to copyright regulations. 

Ulvaeus said: “The way we respond to AI and its relationship with copyright will have an enormous impact on European culture and our creative economy. At a time when legislation is planned in many jurisdictions across the world, this is a moment when I hope Europe will show its leadership in protecting creators and the creative industries. Rules that require transparency from AI operators are a vital element of this”.

Towards a sustainable creative economy

CISAC Director-General Gadi Oron and Sabam CEO Steven De Keyser also joined the meeting. They asked for sustained support for copyright and the value of the creative economy, at EU and national government level. 

The important role of collective management organisations (or authors societies) in protecting and remunerating creators was also discussed. Sabam and CISAC are working in Belgium and internationally, along with other members societies and GESAC in Europe, to support creators struggling to make a living and build a career in the streaming market.

The delegation welcomed the report “Cultural diversity and the conditions of authors in the music streaming market”adopted by the European Parliament on 17th January. The report highlights inequalities for creators including inadequate remuneration and lack of transparency in how works are promoted and discovered. 

Ulvaeus has been an international champion of the campaign for fair treatment of songwriters and all creators in the streaming world.

https://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/cisac-president-bjrn-ulvaeus-meets-belgian-prime-minister-alexander-de-croo-on-music-technology-and-copyright