Good afternoon, everyone.
Furthermore, it is of the utmost importance that the Copyright Act be respected. It remains the flagship law for creators, and we submit that the advent of generative artificial intelligence should not obliterate the Copyright Act—quite the contrary. It remains relevant and constitutes the foundation on which we must rely. It is a law that confers exclusive rights on the copyright holder.
Authorization is generally required when using a protected work. However, large language models have been trained without such authorization being granted. This goes against the very foundation of the act. We feel it is important to add that no exceptions should be made in this regard.
Creators, who offer sought-after content, are absent from the business model. No remuneration is granted. This cannot be tolerated. Through licensing, collective management organizations are well positioned to meet market needs.
Let us add that it is important for us to have normative texts. The former bill enacting the Artificial Intelligence and Data Act died on the Order Paper. Canada needs to have regulations, particularly with regard to transparency. This message is being hammered home by the entire cultural community, and it is important that it be heard.
Legal proceedings are under way in Canada. Waiting for the courts to rule is not the way to legislate. We submit that it is important for the government to be proactive in this area. Our cultural sovereignty must be assured, since our identity is at stake. Jeopardizing what defines us cannot be the subject of negotiations of any kind.
Generative artificial intelligence made a sensational debut in November 2022 with ChatGPT. We have barely had time to integrate a whole new lexical field, which, it should be noted, comes from another industry. This significantly increases the difficulty coefficient. We are still in the process of developing adequate literacy.
Let us be clear: We are not against artificial intelligence. Creators are used to using new tools. That is not what the debate is about. Rights holders are part of an economic model from which they do not reap the benefits. Creators and creative industries are also the jewels in the crown of our culture and identity. From both these perspectives, we cannot leave things as they are.
Culture is part of Canada's collective and economic wealth. The impact of artificial intelligence is real, and it is up to our elected officials to respond—