Marsha Blackburn aims to enhance regulations safeguarding Tennessee musicians against AI.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn Advocates for Copyright Protection in AI Hearing

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), representing the vibrant music industry hub of Nashville, is approaching Wednesday’s artificial intelligence hearing with a focus on the concerns of her country-crooning constituents.

“You’ve got a massive creative community in our state,” she explained in an interview with the Washington Examiner. “And whether it is entertainers or it is brand infringement that companies like Gibson Guitars have seen … those are things that are going to be vitally important.”

Blackburn emphasized the need to address the current infringement of creators’ “stock and trade” by AI technology during the Senate Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property’s second hearing on artificial intelligence and copyright.

She has already engaged with various creators and artists in her state, including songwriters and the Recording Industry Association of America, to understand their concerns regarding this issue.

According to Blackburn, Congress must approach this matter in a “judicious manner” and carefully examine the existing regulatory framework.

When asked about the Patent and Trademark Office’s regulations, Blackburn expressed the need for more specificity in their approach.

Recent reports revealed that comedian Sarah Silverman has filed class-action lawsuits against OpenAI and Meta, alleging copyright infringement. In response, Blackburn stressed the importance of Congress taking action.

“This is one of the reasons it’s important for Congress to do a few basic things.”

These “basic things” include establishing an online privacy law to protect individuals’ content in the virtual space and implementing effective measures to police intellectual property rights. Additionally, Blackburn believes Congress must find ways to compensate entertainers for any infringement they experience.

If AI continues to develop without proper regulation, Blackburn expressed concerns about the impact on creative works and the ability of creators to earn a living from their creations.

She reiterated the constitutional protection that exists for innovators and inventors, emphasizing their right to benefit from their work.

Click here to read more from the Washington Examiner.