From Music Business Worldwide · · 1m 10s
Copyright Alliance Calls Meta Terms Unconscionable
Copyright Alliance says Meta’s business terms are unconscionable, risking delays and legal challenges.
In brief
Copyright Alliance says Meta’s business terms are unconscionable, risking delays and legal challenges. Copyright Alliance demands Meta withdraw AI training terms after claiming they allow scraping copyrighted content without opt-out. Originally reported by Music Business Worldwide.
Copyright Alliance statement
The Copyright Alliance, which includes RIAA, NMPA, and UMG, called Meta’s proposed business terms 'unconscionable'.
“The new terms of service that Meta intends to put into practice are unconscionable”
Meta’s proposed changes
Meta’s terms allow scraping websites and content for AI training without opt-out options.
“They could allow Meta to scrape any business user’s content and use that scraped content, much of which is protected by copyright, in Meta’s own business products, including for advertising, and to train and ground the company’s AI products”
Meta delays implementation
Meta says the rollout could be delayed again pending consultation with industry groups.
“We’re committed to getting this right, and as we expect this consultation could extend beyond November 20, in which case we’d delay implementation of the updated terms”
Court blocks terms
A Norwegian court temporarily barred Meta from implementing the new terms without hearing.
“The court issued its order on an emergency basis, without hearing from Meta, pending a final ruling on whether the terms are lawful”
Meta’s revised terms
Meta dropped the word 'train' from its terms to permit scraping for advertising products.
“in order to provide, develop, improve, research, and maintain advertising and business products”
Senator demands withdrawal
US Senator Marsha Blackburn urges Meta to withdraw terms to protect creators.
“Meta must withdraw the updated Commercial Terms and come to the table to protect the content of creators and publishers across the”
Meta’s response to critics
Meta claims content owners can use robots.txt to signal preferences.
“content owners will still be able to use robots.txt to signal preferences”
Previous delays
Meta delayed implementation twice, first from October 30 to November 20.
“On October 23, the company moved the effective date from October 30 to November 20”
Legal challenges
Meta faces lawsuits over AI training and content scraping from publishers.
“Wixen Music Publishing, which sued Meta in January, alleges that the company’s 'reason for slashing payments to songwriters is to replace human-generated, royalty-bearing music with royalty-free AI-generated music'”
The bottom line
Copyright Alliance demands Meta withdraw AI training terms after claiming they allow scraping copyrighted content without opt-out.
