CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus meets Belgian Prime minister Alexander De Croo on music, technology and copyright

24 January 2024 - Press release

CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus met with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to discuss the huge impact of AI on the creative economy and the need for smart regulation by policy makers to safeguard creators’ rights.

The CISAC President and ABBA founder called for sustained support for copyright and the protection of creators by the European Union as Belgium takes the six-month presidency of the EU. 

AI Regulation: a priority for the Belgian Presidency
Ulvaeus thanked the Prime Minister for Belgium’s important EU programme, which includes projects focused on intellectual property rights. At a key moment in the debate over copyright and AI, Belgium will also be overseeing discussions to finalise the text of the EU AI act. In particular, Ulvaeus urged the establishment of proper transparency principles in the EU AI Act and to require AI operators to adhere to copyright regulations. 

Ulvaeus said: “The way we respond to AI and its relationship with copyright will have an enormous impact on European culture and our creative economy. At a time when legislation is planned in many jurisdictions across the world, this is a moment when I hope Europe will show its leadership in protecting creators and the creative industries. Rules that require transparency from AI operators are a vital element of this”.

Towards a sustainable creative economy
CISAC Director-General Gadi Oron and Sabam CEO Steven De Keyser also joined the meeting. They asked for sustained support for copyright and the value of the creative economy, at EU and national government level. 

The important role of collective management organisations (or authors societies) in protecting and remunerating creators was also discussed. Sabam and CISAC are working in Belgium and internationally, along with other members societies and GESAC in Europe, to support creators struggling to make a living and build a career in the streaming market.

The delegation welcomed the report “Cultural diversity and the conditions of authors in the music streaming market”adopted by the European Parliament on 17th January. The report highlights inequalities for creators including inadequate remuneration and lack of transparency in how works are promoted and discovered. 

Ulvaeus has been an international champion of the campaign for fair treatment of songwriters and all creators in the streaming world.