By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The toy industry giant Mattel, Inc. and artificial intelligence company OpenAI have announced a new strategic partnership to develop AI-powered products and experiences based on Mattel’s portfolio of brands. The partners say their collaboration will focus on integrating OpenAI’s technology into Mattel’s toy and game offerings, with an … [Read more...] about Barbie as a Chatbot? Mattel and OpenAI Unveil Strategic Partnership
Artificial Intelligence
Opinion: Timbaland’s New AI Pop Star ‘TaTa’ Ushers in the Age of the Uncanny Valley
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Rapper and music producer Timbaland has launched an AI entertainment company, Stage Zero, which will manage its first 'signee', an AI pop artist named TaTa (pictured here). In doing so, Timbaland has also plunged the rest of the world into a Black Mirror episode that—unlike TaTa—is unfortunately very real. Stage Zero, co-founded by Rocky … [Read more...] about Opinion: Timbaland’s New AI Pop Star ‘TaTa’ Ushers in the Age of the Uncanny Valley
Critics Say Europe’s ‘AI Act’ Fails to Protect Artists’ Copyright
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief A key architect of EU copyright law says the legislation has failed to protect the copyright of writers, musicians and artists. Axel Voss is a German centre-right member of the European parliament, who played a major role in writing the EU's directive on copyright in 2019. However, he says the law was not intended to deal with generative AI … [Read more...] about Critics Say Europe’s ‘AI Act’ Fails to Protect Artists’ Copyright
CISAC Study Predicts Human Creators Will Lose Revenue to Generative AI
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief At its heart, the entire entertainment industry is based on the work of human content creators, be they musicians, artists or writers, but that relationship is now threatened by the advent of Generative AI. That's the view of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), which has just released a study … [Read more...] about CISAC Study Predicts Human Creators Will Lose Revenue to Generative AI
Members Only: TLL’s Top 8 Licensing Trends for 2025
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The licensing industry is undergoing a period of extremely rapid change, thanks largely to a variety of economic and political factors, but even more to the rapid development of new technologies that have opened up new opportunities for the brand licensing sector. That’s not surprising. Rapid advances in technology always create new … [Read more...] about Members Only: TLL’s Top 8 Licensing Trends for 2025
Canadian News Media Open New Front in War Over AI and Copyright
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief A coalition of Canada's top news organizations is suing OpenAI for using its content to train its ChatGPT generative AI bot. The coalition includes The Canadian Press wire service, Torstar, the Globe and Mail, Postmedia and CBC/Radio-Canada. For full disclosure, the author of this story worked at CBC/Radio Canada, and … [Read more...] about Canadian News Media Open New Front in War Over AI and Copyright
Blade Runner 2049 Suing Tesla for Copyright Infringement
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief This may be the most '2024' news story I've seen yet, especially for the licensing industry. Combining artificial intelligence, copyright infringement, sci fi movies, robot taxis, Tesla, and a brash move by Elon Musk, a new lawsuit from the makers of Blade Runner 2049 is like a mashup of 2024 doom-scrolling headlines. Blade Runner 2049 … [Read more...] about Blade Runner 2049 Suing Tesla for Copyright Infringement
George Carlin Estate Settles Lawsuit Over ‘AI Comedy Special’
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The estate of George Carlin won a settlement with a media company over a fake, hour-long comedy special, purportedly using AI to portray the comedian. As TLL first reported in January, the estate filed a federal lawsuit against the comedy podcast Dudesy for an hour-long comedy special sold as an AI-generated impression of the late … [Read more...] about George Carlin Estate Settles Lawsuit Over ‘AI Comedy Special’
Watch ASCAP’s Video Doc on AI and Music For Free
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief If you'd like to learn more about how the music industry is responding to the challenges and opportunities of AI, check out the new documentary from ASCAP. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has just released a documentary on YouTube on their 2023 ASCAP Lab Music and AI Challenge. Prelude in AI Major: Crafting a … [Read more...] about Watch ASCAP’s Video Doc on AI and Music For Free
Licensing Law: Google Faces Fines, Multibillion Dollar Lawsuit In Europe
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The search and advertising giant Google is facing a double whammy of legal threats over its media activities in the European Union. In one case, Google was fined €250 million on March 20 by French regulators, who say the company breached an agreement to pay media companies for reproducing their content online. In the second case, … [Read more...] about Licensing Law: Google Faces Fines, Multibillion Dollar Lawsuit In Europe