New SAA Board confront AI, Big Tech and copyright challenges head-on
On 1 April, SAA General Assembly elected a new leadership; a Board of Directors that will guide the strategic direction of the organisation for 2025-2027 to address the challenges facing audiovisual authors in Europe, including the impact of generative AI, the uncertain regulatory environment and the challenging political climate.
“I'm proud to lead the work of the SAA with such a dedicated membership and executive team. As collective management organisations, we have a vital task ahead of us to address the worrying erosion of authors' rights and the devaluation of human creation and cultural diversity. We will work together for a sustainable European model based on a legal, fair and collectively managed remuneration for audiovisual authors.”
Barbara Hayes, SAA Chair
“The disappointing outcome of the EU stakeholder consultation on the AI Act Code of Practice, the unwillingness of AI companies to negotiate fair licensing with collective management organisations, and rising litigation highlight new challenges demanding bold solutions – especially as the Copyright directives have failed to resolve the fragmentation of audiovisual authors' rights. As Big Tech challenges the regulatory landscape, authors’ representative organisations must fight in courts to protect authors and safeguard cultural diversity.”
Patrick Raude, SAA Vice-Chair
SAA's renewed leadership
The board is made up of 8 SAA member organisations:
- AIPA (Slovenia)
- ALCS (UK)
- Copyswede (Sweden)
- DAMA (Spain)
- LITA (Slovakia)
- SACD (France)
- VG WORT (Germany)
- ZAPA (Poland)