Digital

Plans to amend copyright law to allow artificial intelligence developers to exploit protected works without the permission of creators and rightsholders have been ditched by government.

During a debate in the House of Commons today Intellectual Property Minister George Freeman said he and DCMS Minister Julia Lopez felt that the proposals were not correct and that they would “not be proceeding" with them.

The changes of policy follows opposition to the proposals from the music industry.

“We are looking to stop them and to return to office to have a rather deeper conversation with the All Party Parliamentary Group who I met yesterday, with experts in both Houses and with the industry,” Freeman said.

Commenting on the announcement, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, Chief Executive of UK Music, said: “UK Music warmly welcomes the minister’s decision to scrap plans for a catastrophic blanket copyright exception.

“The whole music industry has been united in its opposition to these proposals, which would have paved the way for music laundering and opened up our brilliant creators and rights holders to gross exploitation.

“We are delighted to see the back of a policy that risked irreparable damage to the global success story that is the UK music industry."

A new archive project will see thousands of music recordings dating back to 1973 digitised and made publicly available online.

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester will be delving into its vast archive of recordings for its Throwing Open the Concert Doors project.

The RNCM plans to conserve and digitise performances spanning a 50-year period, including everything from student recitals to full-scale opera productions.

As well as being available online, there are also plans to install a public listening booth at the college’s Oxford Road site.

Heather Roberts, RNCM Archivist, said: “The RNCM’s story is of great significance to Manchester’s cultural heritage, but it is ultimately a ‘hidden gem’ in terms of public awareness.”

She added that many of the older recordings are in danger of being lost due their deterioration over time.

“Due to the ravages of time, these [older recordings] are steadily and irreversibly degrading and, without conservation and digitations, will soon be lost forever.

Throwing Open the Concert Doors is supported by a £206,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

It will be delivered in partnership with Manchester Digital Music Archive – a volunteer-run online community archive – and Manchester Central Library’s Unlocking Our Sound Heritage initiative.

Creatives in the West Midlands are being invited to apply for a free six-week programme aiming to develop the next generation of multi-camera talent.

The Filming Performance Bootcamp, a partnership between The Space, Solihull College and University Centre and part funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, will give participants an overview of how live performances are captured for screen and how various art forms can be filmed for TV and online audiences.

Students will undertake a two-week workshop to learn filming, vision mixing and editing skills, alongside attending masterclasses with industry professionals and gaining hands-on training in capturing live performances and working with artists.

The latest programme, which follows a pilot in Birmingham earlier this year, will run for six weeks starting 30 January 2023.

Applications are open until 8 December to any creatives over 19 that live in the West Midlands, with no prior experience in filming or live capture required.

Skills body ScreenSkills is offering bursaries of up to £2,500 per participant to cover costs incurred while taking part in the course, including a loss of earning access or childcare needs.

CEO of The Space Fiona Morris said the increasing number of opportunities for artists and cultural organisations to present their work digitally is leading to an unprecedented demand for the skills required to film, mix and edit work.

“We’re delighted, therefore, to be working with our partners to provide such brilliant opportunities for trainees to gain hands-on experience and benefit from working with high-calibre creative professionals,” she added.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said the bootcamp will ensure participants are equipped with the sector-relevant skills that will mean they're well-placed to thrive in the months and years ahead: “I cannot wait to see lives changed for the better”.