On August 20th, Songwriters Association of Canada (S.A.C.) President Arun Chaturvedi and Chair Greg Johnston had a productive meeting with a representative from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The discussions centered on the urgent need for copyright reform, particularly advocating for a technologically neutral Private Copying Act that can adapt to the evolving digital landscape.

Another key focus of the meeting was the growing threat posed by generative AI to music creators. The S.A.C. leaders emphasized the critical need for robust guardrails to protect creators’ rights in the face of this rapidly advancing technology. They called for transparency requirements surrounding the ingestion of copyrighted works by AI systems, as well as for the outputs or derivative works generated by these systems.

The S.A.C. remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that the rights of creators are upheld and respected as technology continues to evolve. The association will continue to advocate for policies that protect music creators and their valuable intellectual property.