CISAC Björn Ulvaeus / AI

 This week, representatives of CISAC and GESAC - The European Authors' Societies met with the Executive Vice-president of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, Henna Virkkunen, at a critical time for the #AIAct implementation process.

CISAC President and ABBA songwriter Björn Ulvaeus shared the deep concerns of the creator community over the final drafts of the key documents, namely the Code of Practice, the Guidelines, and the Template developed under the AI Office’s responsibility.

Despite consistent, detailed, and constructive engagement of creators and their societies, the final outcome represents a serious dilution of the meaningful protections that co-legislators intended to enshrine. 

The current implementation of the AI Act falls short of safeguarding the creative sector and, if not corrected, risks undermining Europe’s AI Act and copyright framework in favour of a few global tech companies, sending the message that Europe is stepping back from its commitment to responsible and trustworthy AI that empowers European industries. 

We call on the European Commission to take urgent steps to revisit the implementation package to uphold the European creative sector and enforce European intellectual property rights in the emerging EU AI market.

 Sidney van den Boogaard/Shutterstock.com

https://www.facebook.com/CISACWorldwide/posts/pfbid02pzpsazRvwxBSibdVu3qDYQ2VCk5jjqJjeEcm1BaTzfUKtgNFFstptEkEDixtQGSzl

Björn Ulvaeus - General Assembly

 CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus has opened the General Assembly with a strong call for vision from policy makers who are dealing with AI.

“All we are asking for from policy makers is that creators’ rights are not cast aside in a visionless, misguided rush to claim supremacy in the AI world”.

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Bjorn Ulvaeus in Brussels

In Brussels, a Call for Proper AI Act Implementation

In Feature Articles by Porter Anderson

May 21, 2025

‘Stay True to the Act, Stay True to Culture’ held a meeting in Brussels on May 20, amid fears about AI policy implementation in the EU.

https://publishingperspectives.com/2025/05/in-brussels-a-call-for-proper-ai-act-implementation/

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/conormccarthy0_delighted-to-have-björn-from-abba-as-guest-activity-7330956105818267649-99Mc

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“Empowering creators in the age of AI” Tuesday 20 May 2025, 16:30-18:30 European Parliament, Brussels Room: ANTALL 6Q2 

“Creators and their rights in the age of AI” Björn ULVAEUS, ABBA co-founder, singer/songwriter and President of CISAC, Sweden

Bjorn today at European Parliament, Brussels

photos. Laurence Farreng  on X

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Speech by Björn Ulvaeus at the joint industry event - European Parliament,  

20 May 2025  

Good evening, I’m delighted to be here among distinguished MEPs and policy makers, and joined by creators of many 

different repertoires.  

Thank you very much for inviting me to this important discussion in the European Parliament. 

Setting the scene 

I have always believed passionately in Europe - and European unity - as a force for good.  

I have also admired Europe’s leadership in protecting culture and championing the rights of creators. 

I’m going to open this event with some words about a critical topic - that is, the AI revolution:  how it will impact creators, 

culture, human creativity and the vast economy that is generated by the creative industries. 

We are living at a time of unprecedented transformation.   

AI tools are getting better and smarter by the day.  

Investment in AI by the tech sector is skyrocketing.   

A debate is raging across the world about balancing technology innovation and creators’ rights.  

And governments are coming ever closer to making decisions that will shape the environment and have a profound 

impact on culture. 

It’s undoubtedly a big moment in time for policy makers.  

It is their job to make the rules and shape the landscape of this new world. 

Creative industries have seen a few revolutions in recent decades.  

But this is the biggest one.  

At stake is the whole copyright system which makes cultural creation possible and economically sustainable.   

The overriding concern from creators at this time is, of course, that creators’ rights are safeguarded, and effectively so.  

This should not be a controversial request.  

But with the way the discussion is going is some parts of the world, there is, I fear, a real danger.   

And a deep concern that creators rights will not be safeguarded, but rather diminished,  to a point where original human 

creativity becomes a monument to the past. 

Page 1 of 3 

We are pro-AI 

Speech by Björn Ulvaeus at the joint industry event - European Parliament, 20 May 2025  

Let me say at the start  -  I believe that AI tools are great.   

Bring on the AI revolution! 

I have spent a lot of time talking to creators and tech companies about AI’s potential. 

It brings huge benefits, unlocks new ways of creating that we didn’t even imagine possible. 

People sometimes get the idea that those who create for a living are in some way afraid of new technology.  

As an artist with a career of 40 years behind me, I can tell you nothing is further from the truth. 

Creators are entrepreneurial, innovative, risk-takers.  

They have to be.   

My whole career has been about experimenting and innovating.  

That is the life of a songwriter, or a film-maker or an artist of any genre, especially in the digital age.  

Creators are not afraid of AI. But they are afraid of losing their living, and their career, because of a badly-regulated AI 

environment. 

They are right to be fearful. CISAC’s independently-commissioned impact study last year estimated huge losses of music 

and audiovisual revenues if effective safeguards are not put in place.  

The legislative priorities. What are those safeguards?   

First there must be transparency – AI training MUST be subject to clear and effective transparency rules.  

Without transparency, we will never know which works were used, by whom, and how. And this information is a must 

for licensing.  

So, interlinked with transparency, is licensing.  

Creators should be in a position to authorise and license their works for use by AI companies.  

The right and ability to license is the beating heart of the creative sector.  

It cannot be negotiable. 

And, thirdly, also interlinked, remuneration.  

Our mission is not to stop AI, but to effectively monetise it.  

That means guaranteeing payment when creators’ copyrighted works are trained by AI tools. 

So inevitably the focus is now on policy makers – and especially here in the EU, which has played such an influential role  

in the copyright field over many years. 

The EU AI Act 

The EU AI Act took effect last year, after an intense debate.  

The European Parliament, I know, played a key role in its successful adoption.  

Page 2 of 3 

COM25-0515  

Speech by Björn Ulvaeus at the joint industry event - European Parliament, 20 May 2025  

The Act, and its promising provisions on copyright compliance and transparency rules,  came as an enormous relief to 

the creative community.   

It was a first step only, but one to applaud as a possible model for other jurisdictions.  

Today, I hear a different view. 

There are deep concerns that, in the implementation of the AI Act, via the Code of Practice for AI companies and the  

Transparency Template, the key principles from the AI Act that safeguard the interests of creators and the creative 

industries, are being watered down. 

They are watered down, to a level where they will be barely effective. 

If Europe backslides now, that would be hugely disappointing and damaging.  

It will create a dangerous precedent.  

And it would also send a worrying signal to the world – that Europe does not value its creators or its creative sector. 

Concluding message 

So I would like to end my speech with simple message to the EU: please stay true to the vision that you had with the AI 

Act.  

Implement the AI Act in a way that would make it genuinely effective.  

Make sure the AI Act’s implementation provides the basis for a healthy market with true collaboration between 

creators’ rights and technology.   

Make copyright compliance and transparency obligations not just general objectives, but concrete realities that work in 

practice. 

We must never be seduced by the false idea that, in the headlong rush to the new AI world, creators’ interests must be 

cast aside.   

That approach won’t work – not for the creative sector, not for the economy, not for culture. It also won’t work for the 

tech sector whose vast  AI revenues, let’s not forget, derive from copyrighted creative works made by humans. 

The vision has to be a win-win for creators and the tech industry.  

That can only happen with legislation that truly and effectively safeguards creators. 

So I say: Bring on the AI revolution – but stay true to safeguarding creators’ rights.

https://www.cisac.org/Newsroom/news-releases/european-creators-led-bjorn-ulvaeus-abba-meet-top-eu-policymakers-ensure

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Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Bjorn

source photos: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/et/webstreaming?view=day

Bjorn in London - Cisac

 source Bjorn´s facebook

In his role as President of CISAC, Björn visited the British Parliament to discuss AI and copyright with Secretary of State Peter Kyle, Baroness Kidron and MP Kevin Brennan among others.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid05fQyYZTeJ1oNg6kz1e4faXMT2fjQSmRnJnK

label https://abbaregistro.blogspot.com/search/label/CISAC%202025

Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus joins chorus against AI copyright overhaul

 

Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus joins chorus against AI copyright overhaul

The Swedish musician is supporting creatives and MPs from all parties in lobbying the government to change its plans

new

Mark Sellman, Technology correspondent

Tuesday April 29 2025, 10.40pm BST, The Times

Björn Ulvaeus at a discussion on AI and copyright.

photo Bjorn Ulvaeus attended a discussion about AI and copyright at the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday. He said that copyright was the “oxygen that creators rely on for their existence” CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES

Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus has backed stronger rules on “profit-seeking” AI companies to protect the copyright of creatives.

The Swedish musician supported MPs and the creative industries who are urging the government to change course on its shake-up of copyright law.

Ministers want to allow AI companies to take copyrighted works without permission unless the owner opts out.

Creatives say that this favours AI companies because it is not practical to opt out, and want current copyright rules enforced instead.

ABBA after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974.

photo. Ulvaeus, right, with Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Faltskog at Eurovision in 1974 OLLE LINDEBORG/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

A key demand from the creative sector is that AI companies should have to be “transparent” about the copyrighted works they have used to develop their language models. The companies have resisted this, saying that it is impractical and burdensome.

Ulvaeus said: “Copyright is the oxygen which creators and the creative economy depend on for their existence and survival. They cannot be sacrificed. Unfortunately, there is an alternative and, in my opinion, more dangerous view, driven by profit-seeking tech companies. That view favours a weaker rights framework and broad exceptions to copyright.

“AI training must be subject to clear transparency rules; creators must be able to license their own works; and remuneration of those creators must be guaranteed.”

A government consultation on the plans has closed and ministers are due to respond this year.

MPs and peers have been trying to force the government to implement stronger transparency rules through amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which reaches its report stage on May 7.

Baroness Kidron, a film-maker and crossbench peer, said: “We can be a world leader in providing the commodity AI firms are most desperate for: high-quality creative content. But we can only seize this growth opportunity if the government gives us meaningful transparency which will allow creators to hold AI firms to account for copyright theft.”

Samantha Niblett, a Labour MP who co-chairs the parliamentary internet, communications and technology forum, said: “I am a tech optimist and I believe that AI can transform our economy for the better. But this will not happen if AI is built on content stolen from UK citizens, with a regulatory environment that favours Big Tech monopolies.

Group photo of Baroness Kidron with Björn Ulvaeus and others at a discussion on AI and copyright.

photo Ulvaeus met legislators including Baroness Kidron, to the right of Ulvaeus, at Westminster on Tuesday CARL COURT/GETTY IMAGES

“The government has a golden opportunity to introduce transparency provisions in the Data Bill, spurring a dynamic licensing market for the data that is AI’s essential fuel and becoming the most trusted country in the world when it comes to tech and AI.”

Caroline Dinenage, the Conservative chair of the culture, media and sport select committee, added: “My committee has found that an opt-out copyright regime will damage the UK’s reputation among inward investors. In fact, far from being a barrier to AI innovation, copyright is essential to it.

“Strong copyright law — enforced by meaningful transparency provisions — will ensure that creators can continue to produce the works that are essential to safe, reliable generative AI models.”

Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, said: “I have always been clear that no changes will be made until we are absolutely confident that we have a practical plan that delivers on each of our objectives.

“We want to provide a solution allowing both sectors to thrive, and this is the message I reiterated when I met with Bjorn earlier this week.”

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/technology-uk/article/abbas-bjorn-ulvaeus-ai-copyright-v8ghmqdkr

abbaregistrobox: https://abbaregistrobox.blogspot.com/2025/04/abbas-bjorn-ulvaeus-joins-chorus.html

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Björn in London

 jamesaa1988

Palace of Westminster

In London to see @mammamiamusical with @matthewwanderlust and casually walking through Westminster we bumped into… @bjornulvaeus !

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJAKTJTI8gR/?img_index=1

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CISAC

Peter Kyle

@peterkyle

https://x.com/peterkyle/status/1916892532161609741/photo/1

I welcomed ABBA's 

Peter Kyle

@peterkyle

@BUlvaeus

 to Westminster today to discuss how we can deliver clarity to the UK’s copyright landscape and the opportunities AI brings.

We are working to deliver a solution which increases control for rights holders while building greater transparency

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annanealemusic - london 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJAAoaKtQ7f/?img_index=2

Today  President of @cisacnews @bjornulvaeus joined forces with @prsformusic to discuss the AI act with Secretary of State Peter Kyle MP and ammemdments in the House of Lords with @kevinbrennanmp.

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on X

𝗔𝗕𝗕𝗔 𝗰𝗼-𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗖 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗷ö𝗿𝗻 𝗨𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗲𝘂𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗨𝗞 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗜 

CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus has concluded two days of meetings in the UK, urging the government to safeguard human creators in the AI age and avoid weakening creators’ rights. 

Speaking at an open discussion with Members of Parliament and Lords in Westminster—joined by CISAC and

@PRSforMusic

—Ulvaeus emphasized that the UK must maintain its leadership in the creative industries by embracing AI while staying true to copyright.

The statement followed a meeting on Monday with Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology,

@peterkyle

, and a separate discussion with Peers at the House of Lords.

At Tuesday’s meeting with Lords and Parliamentarians convened to discuss the government’s consultation on AI and copyright, Ulvaeus said:

🗨️ “Copyright is the oxygen which creators and the creative economy depend on for their existence and survival. They cannot be sacrificed.

I am convinced that the AI revolution can be not only the biggest, but also the best, revolution that the creative industries have faced. That is possible, but only if there is a legitimate, mutually-respecting partnership between creators and AI operators

https://x.com/CISACNews/status/1917248010238795877

photos cisac

Source language: English / Written on: 29/04/2025 

Document prepared by ULVAEUS Björn (CISAC President) 

Björn Ulvaeus's speech at Westminster 

Good afternoon. 

Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak to you today on the important topic of AI.  

This is an issue that’s close to my heart: as a creator and as an avid technology enthusiast.   

I am speaking today not just as an artist but also President of CISAC, the largest global network of creators. 

And more than that: I am speaking as someone who is very closely involved in the UK creative sector.  

From the early days of ABBA, London and the UK meant a lot for us – and not just because of Waterloo…  

These days I have three shows that are running here in London: Mama Mia the Musical; Mama Mia the Party at the O2, and of course ABBA Voyage. 

The UK is a hub for the music and the creative sector.  

And there’s a good reason for this: the UK has always been supportive of this sector, appreciative of its contribution to  the economy, and rewarding it with a strong legal protection in the form of copyright. 

Yet these days the UK is at a crossroad, like many other countries, when it comes to addressing the issue of Artificial Intelligence.  

We are living in an era of unprecedented transformation. And nowhere is this more evident that in the rise of generative AI.  

AI is bringing huge benefits, and opens doors we did not even know exist. 

I’m a very keen and enthusiastic user of AI tools. I’ve been enjoying using AI for nearly two years now. But AI tools also raise many concerns.  

The main concern, is quite simply, that we have to secure the protection of human creators. 

This debate is now reaching a climax, and policy makers in many countries are considering  changes to the laws on copyright and AI.  

The message from creators is loud and clear: this is about upholding the entire system of copyright and authors’ rights.  

Copyright is the oxygen which creators and the creative economy depend on for their existence and survival. 

They cannot be sacrificed.  

I am convinced that the AI revolution can be not only the biggest, but also the best, revolution that the creative industries have faced.  

That is possible, but only if there is a legitimate, mutually-respecting partnership between creators and AI operators.  

Unfortunately, there is an alternative and, in my opinion, more dangerous view, driven by profit-seeking tech companies. 

That view favours a weaker rights framework and broad exceptions to copyright.  

This would take away from the creators their right to negotiate for the use of their works, and that would be a historic setback for both creators and the tech sector.   

At this point I think it is vital to be clear: protecting creators’ rights in no way means trying to stop the advance of technology.   

On the contrary, it means embracing and licensing AI tools in a safe, legal environment.   

I say this as the number one fan of AI and of its possibilities for enhancing human creation.   

What is pre-requisite, however, is that creators’ rights are respected.  

Specifically that means:  

1. AI training must be subject to clear transparency rules;  

2. Creators must be able to license their own works;  

3. and remuneration of those creators must be guaranteed.  

I have frequently been called on to be the message-carrier on this issue, to Presidents, Prime Ministers and anyone else 

who can help ensure that this debate ends fairly.  

I’ve been delighted to be able to use my experience to do that, and I would like to see other well-known artists do the same.  

Look at what was achieved by the inspiring “Make it Fair” campaign in the UK, rightly protesting against the misguided suggestion of loosening copyright rules.  

The truth is that creators are not afraid of AI; but they are afraid, and legitimately so, of losing their rights and losing their income.  

There is no doubt that, as AI technologies get smarter and better, the regulatory debate around AI and creators’ rights is getting more critical.  

The global economic study by CISAC and PMP Strategy, which I helped launch in December, projects deep revenue losses in music and audiovisual repertoires by 2028, if the right rules are not in place.  Time is running out. We must remember that this is not about the future of big successful artists. It's about the vast majority of those creators whose royalties support their careers and sustain our culture. And it’s about the multi-trillion dollar creative sector that powers our economies, including the tech sector. 

Upholding creators’ rights is not only about fairness, it’s also about economic good sense.   

So bring on the AI revolution – and one that stays true to creators’ rights

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photo Gadi Oron Director General at CISAC

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zahra_o_shah UK House of Lords

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJCy9gVoYLZ

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