Calling All Fellow Artists, Writers, Musicians, Filmmakers, Makers, and Creators (and ALL those who believe in them),

We are living in an extraordinary time, filled with immense creative possibilities FOR and unprecedented challenges TO the value and control of the work we pour our lives into. Whether you write novels, compose music, paint, film movies, craft social media content, or earn your living through any form of intellectual property, your contribution enriches our world and is a vital part of the American experience.

The bedrock of this creative life has always been the protection of your work through intellectual property laws and copyright, a principle so fundamental it is enshrined in our Constitution to encourage artists to pursue their craft. This legal framework is not just about ownership; it's about ensuring that creators can sustain themselves, build careers, and continue to produce the beauty, insight, and wonder that defines our culture.

Today, that foundation is under threat. Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are being trained on vast amounts of creative work – without permission or compensation. The companies building these multi-billion-dollar AI models often claim they can use our copyrighted material freely under the legal concept of "Fair Use."

We believe, and critically, the United States Copyright Office agrees, that using copyrighted creative works as the raw material to train commercial AI models is not "Fair Use." 

This is not the occasional reference or learned influence that has always been part of human creativity. This is the systematic, large-scale ingestion of our life's work to build competing products that can mimic our styles and potentially displace human creators entirely, all without a single dollar paid to the original artist.

The good news is that the US Copyright Office is recognizing this critical distinction. They are emphasizing that the ethical and legal path for AI training data is licensing and negotiation. As highlighted by platforms like Credtent.org and other emerging services, mechanisms now exist for AI companies to ethically obtain and pay for the data they need, allowing creators to choose whether their work is used for training and to be fairly compensated if it is. Plenty of opt-in, licensed training data is available.

The Time to Speak Up Is Now

• Your work has value for AI training. You should retain the right to control its use for this purpose.
• Using your work for AI training should be a negotiation. It is a transaction requiring a license and compensation, not a free appropriation.
• AI companies should not profit from your work without paying for it. Claiming "Fair Use" to build commercial models from scraped data undermines the very principles of copyright that protect all creators.
• Standing firm on licensing protects your ability to earn a living from your creativity. It ensures that AI development proceeds ethically, respecting the rights of the human artists whose work makes AI's creative output possible.

We must champion AI Transparency. Just as consumers deserve to know the ingredients in their food, they deserve to know when creative work is generated or substantially assisted by AI. Creators should be disclosing their use of AI tools in their work. This allows audiences and consumers to make informed decisions about what they support and helps maintain the distinction and unique value of human creativity.

We urge you to stand with the US Copyright Office and the growing movement advocating for ethical AI and robust creative rights.

By signing this letter, you contribute to sending a powerful message:

• You support the US Copyright Office's stance that "Fair Use" does not justify using copyrighted work for commercial AI training without compensation.
• You advocate for licensing, negotiation, and fair payment for the use of creative work in AI training data.
• You believe creative work should be protected by copyright and intellectual property laws in the age of AI.
• You support transparency and disclosure regarding the use of AI in creative outputs.

Our collective voice is essential. Protecting the rights of one creator strengthens the rights of us all. Let's ensure that the future of creativity is one where artists thrive, are fairly compensated, and retain control over the intellectual property they create.

Thank you for your passion, your talent, and your willingness to stand for your rights.

Sincerely,

Eric R. Burgess - Chief Executive, Author, Maker, Technologist

Dr. J. Galen Buckwalter - Chief Science Officer, Author, Maker, Musician

Deborah Drake - Chief Marketing Officer, Community Outreach, Author, Maker