During earnings calls, media executives are disclosing that some of their efforts are more successful than others. News Corp's CEO, Robert Thomson, mentions being in advanced discussions with digital companies that are expected to generate significant revenue in exchange for using News Corp's content. The company has not revealed which generative AI companies they are negotiating with. Thomson suggests that tech companies will likely pay a substantial amount to publishers for the use of their content.
News Corp has been involved in negotiations with a consortium of publishers, led by Diller, who criticizes tech companies for using publishers' content without compensation. However, there is little progress in these negotiations so far. Some publishers, like The Associated Press, decide to form their own licensing partnerships with generative AI companies such as OpenAI. It remains unclear how long it will take for News Corp and other publishers in Diller's coalition to reach a meaningful deal to protect their intellectual property.
News Corp has had previous success in obtaining payments from big tech firms like Google. The company received significant payments from Google in 2021 for featuring its content in Google's News Showcase product. However, there have been recent instances where measures are taken to restrict the unrestricted use of AI in content creation. Agreements in the film and television industry have been made to disclose AI-generated material and restrict the use of AI in creating literary content.
Content creators are eager to protect their work and ensure fair compensation for the use of their content by generative AI companies. IAC CEO, Joey Levin, also expresses the need to defend copyrighted content and suggests that the battle may end up in court.During the earnings call, Levin explains that they believe the existing copyright law clearly states that generative AI companies do not have the right to use copyrighted material without permission. However, they acknowledge that this issue will likely have to be settled in court. Once a decision is reached, all parties involved can then explore a solution that benefits the entire industry. Currently, there are several lawsuits in progress on this matter, and it is anticipated that more will follow in the future.
Kurnos expresses uncertainty regarding whether publishers have enough collective influence to compel generative AI companies to pay for the use of copyrighted content. He believes that government regulation will likely be necessary for any significant change to occur.
