AI Legal fighting becomes intensification for Hollywood; ‘SNL’ last season 51 cast
In the latest episode of the Podcast “Daily Variety”, Variety Journalists analyze the recent Jousts between Hollywood and important AI companies in copyright fights that are raging in the federal courts. Reporter Ethan Shanfeld also breaks out who is in it, who is out and comes up among cast members on “Saturday Night Live”, while the pillar completes his players late in the evening for season 51.
Gene Maddaus, VarietyS Senior Media Writer, has treated AI-related lawsuits almost daily since 2023. He and company editor Todd Spangler break down the meaning of the recent settlement of $ 1.5 billion reached by AI company Anthropic with a collection of authors. They also investigate the recent news that Warner Bros. Discovery has joined Disney and NBCUIversal in his infringement suit against AI -Firma Midjourney.
Maddaus explains that the central question in many of the disputes is whether the use of existing copyrighted works to train AI databases and platforms on his face is a violation of copyright legislation. Proponents of the AI rich claim that it falls under the “fair use” standard that limits the limitations that copyright holders can impose, in particular in the context of journalism and media.
“The big question that people have tried to understand is ai -training itself of copyright? And there are many people, certainly in the Hollywood trade unions, who think it is.“ The legal issues we have seen so far have not supported that position. There were two federal [decisions] In June, who kept it fundamentally, AI training is transforming and therefore it is reasonable use. That is not an absolute license to do what you want to do. But it is a fairly strong indication that courts regard this as a transforming use that is not, inherently protected copyright, protected. ”
Spangler notes that the biggest entertainment conglomerates in Hollywood try to arrange a fine line of what they see as AI-over-range without limiting their own capacity to use AI-related technology in production and other business activities.
“The studios want to be able to use generative AI if and when it makes sense to them,” said Spangler. “By drawing these lines around this specific case [involving Midjourney]They don’t want to bind their own hands. ‘
Looking ahead to the new season of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”, which bends on October 4, Shanfeld discusses the crazy dashboard that takes place every year in the late summer among top comedy agents and managers. When “SNL” Baas Lorne Michaels makes the final decision about new and recurring cast members, the Ripple effects are felt in the comic empire.
“SNL” is a coveted lock that is highly sought after. But today, promising comic stars have many options to build their career. That means that “SNL” may not always be the right choice for those who are lucky to get that call from Michaels. New “SNL” Castlid Veronika Slowikowska is a good example of someone who has made a career of the base on social media.
“I spoke with agents and managers who have had customers who have rejected ‘SNL’ and have decided that it would be better for their career not to be on ‘SNL’,” says Shanfeld. “We are in an era in which fewer comedy films and less comedy -TV shows are produced than 10 years ago. And so I still believe that ‘SNL’ is one of those comedy settings that people will coordinate every week. It’s really just just [comedians] Must weigh all these things with the internet as a direct distribution channel for all these people. You can film yourself on your iPhone and go directly to your audience on Tiktok. ‘SNL’ should not only compete with other studios, but they have to compete with Tiktok and Instagram and every funny person in their bedroom. “
(Depicted: “Saturday Night Live” star Sarah Sherman and newly appointed cast member Veronika Slowikowska)
