Hollywood’s biggest names, from Ben Stiller, Mark Ruffalo to music legend Paul McCartney, have joined forces to raise concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright protection. More than 400 stars have signed an open letter to President Donald Trump’s administration, urging them to protect existing copyright laws. This move comes in response to efforts by OpenAI and Google to loosen these protections, allowing AI to train on copyrighted content without permission or payment to creators.
Hollywood’s concerns over AI and copyright
As per TOI, the letter, sent to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlights fears within the creative community that weakening copyright rules could harm the entertainment industry. The signatories stress that the US should not achieve AI leadership at the cost of its creative industries.
“We firmly believe that America’s global AI leadership must not come at the expense of our essential creative industries,” states the letter. It was signed by actors, filmmakers, writers, and musicians such as Cate Blanchett, Guillermo del Toro, and Aubrey Plaza.
OpenAI and Google say the US should loosen copyright laws to stay ahead in AI, especially against China. They believe AI should be free to learn from copyrighted content under fair use. Google says text-and-data mining is key for AI progress. OpenAI warns that strict rules could slow innovation and weaken the US in the global AI race. They argue that making AI companies negotiate deals with every rights holder would be too difficult and would hold back technology growth.
Hollywood’s response to tech giants
The Hollywood signatories strongly disagree with these claims. They argue that AI companies should be required to obtain proper licenses for using copyrighted material, just like any other industry.
They also point out that the entertainment industry plays a major role in the US economy, employing over 2.3 million people and paying $229 billion in wages each year. According to the letter, allowing AI to freely use copyrighted material without paying creators would harm the industry’s economic and cultural strength. The signatories specifically call out OpenAI and Google for trying to gain special government exemptions, despite their huge financial power. Google is valued at around $2 trillion, while OpenAI has a valuation of over $157 billion.
Wider impact beyond Hollywood
This issue is not just about Hollywood. The letter warns that weakening copyright protections could hurt other industries as well, including publishing, photography, architecture, design, science, engineering, and software development. It stresses that protecting intellectual property is essential to maintaining America’s leadership in creative fields. “America didn’t become a global cultural powerhouse by accident,” the letter states. “Our success stems directly from our fundamental respect for IP and copyright that rewards creative risk-taking by talented and hardworking Americans.”This move by Hollywood is part of a larger backlash against AI companies using copyrighted content without permission
The letter was submitted before Saturday’s midnight deadline. The signatories plan to keep collecting more signatures for a future update.
Other stars who signed the letter
According to The Wrap, Adam Scott, Guillermo del Toro, Natasha Lyonne, Cynthia Erivo, Cate Blanchett, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Cord Jefferson, Bette Midler, Cate Blanchett, Ava Duvernay, Paul Simon, Ángel Manuel Soto, Ron Howard, Taika Waititi, Ayo Edebiri, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lily Gladstone, Sam Mendes, Brit Marling, Janelle Monáe, Bryn Mooser, Rian Johnson, Paul Giamatti, Maggie Gylenhall, Alfonso Cuaron, Judd Apatow, Kim Gordon, Chris Rock, Mark Ruffalo, Juliette Lewis, and Michaela Coel have signed the letter.
