Artists like Anna Funder are sounding the alarm about how big tech uses their work without permission. Her books have been scanned and fed into AI programs without her consent or payment. This is more than just a personal issue. It’s a widespread problem that threatens the rights of creators everywhere.
Last year, a landmark court case, Bartz v Anthropic, ended with a US$1.5 billion settlement. Anna Funder was one of the authors involved. She will eventually receive about US$3,000 for one stolen edition of her book All That I Am. This case shows that artists are finally getting some recognition and compensation for their stolen work.
Big tech companies like Google, Meta, and Anthropic know the value of creative work. Anna Funder calls books the “special sauce” that AI needs. She says, “Aware that books are the high quality text AI needs, big tech calls our product their ‘special sauce’. They know its value, and they do anything to get it.”
The Battle Over Copyright in Australia
Big tech is trying to change copyright laws in Australia. They want an exemption that would make it legal to use creators’ work without permission or payment. Anna Funder explains, “They wanted their taking of our work to be made legal, by ‘exempting’ our work from copyright law.”
But the Australian government has pushed back. It rejected the first attempt by big tech to remove copyright protections. Anna Funder says, “The government firmly rejected the first attempt by big tech to get rid of copyright (and so the creative industries) in Australia.”
Big tech also tries to link the weakening of copyright laws with building AI centers in Australia. Anna calls this a false connection. She points out, “Big tech is falsely linking the gutting of our copyright with the building of AI centres here.”
Why Creative Work Deserves Protection
Anna makes a clear distinction between natural resources and creative work. She says, “Our government sets mining licences and terms, because all Australians are entitled to share in the profits of what we collectively own.”
But creative works are different. They belong to the individuals who make them. Anna stresses, “Creative works are not ore in the ground. They are made by, and so owned by, individuals like me.”
The fight isn’t just about money. It’s about respecting artists and preserving the value of their work. If big tech gets away with using creative content for free, it could destroy the future of writing, art, and other creative industries.
Artists like Anna Funder are standing up to protect their rights. They want to make sure their work is not just stolen and used without control. This battle will shape how AI develops and how creators are treated in the digital age.
Based on
