Cyndi Lauper and Scarlett Johansson blast AI training theft

Hundreds of creators just piled into a public callout, saying AI companies crossed the line by training on copyrighted work without permission and pretending it counts as innovation.

The protest in one snapshot

• Nearly 800 artists, writers, and performers signed onto an open letter.
• The complaint centers on AI systems being trained on copyrighted material without authorization.
• The tone is collective frustration, not a niche gripe.

Who is attached to the message

• Musicians involved include Cyndi Lauper, Bonnie Raitt, Jennifer Hudson, and LeAnn Rimes.
• Bands backing the effort include R.E.M., OneRepublic, and MGMT.
• Film and publishing voices also showed up, including Scarlett Johansson and author Jodi Picoult.

The campaign behind the letter

• The effort runs under the name Stealing Isn’t Innovation.
• It was launched by the Human Artistry Campaign.
• That coalition was formed in 2023 through the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Music Publishers’ Association.

What creators are pushing back on

• Signatories argue that major tech firms are building AI platforms on American creative work.
• The accusation focuses on use without permission and without regard for copyright law.
• Financial backing from private equity and other investors is framed as part of the imbalance.

The core message creators keep repeating

• The letter frames unauthorized use as theft, not progress.
• The argument is positioned as basic fairness, not anti-technology.
• Creators say innovation does not require taking work without consent.

The alternative they are pointing to

• Licensing deals are presented as the obvious solution.
• Some AI companies are acknowledged for choosing licensed and ethical routes.
• The letter insists that advanced AI and creator rights can coexist.

Why this landed now

• The campaign drops while the music industry is actively negotiating AI licenses.
• Tension is shifting from lawsuits toward structured deals.
• The timing suggests leverage, not coincidence.

Udio as the key example

• Udio previously faced copyright litigation.
• In October, it reached a settlement with Universal Music Group tied to collaboration on new music experiences.
• Soon after, a similar agreement landed with Warner Music Group.

More deals, fewer unknowns

• Earlier this week, Udio added Merlin as a partner.
• The deal allows participating members’ music to be used for AI training, with compensation flowing back.
• Participation is optional, not blanket.

Where lawsuits still stand

• Warner Music resolved its case against Suno in November.
• Universal Music Group and Sony Music continue pursuing Suno.
• European collecting societies Koda and GEMA are also suing.

What Udio did next

• As partnerships stacked up, Udio began hiring for a Head of Artist Partnerships.
• The role is designed to manage relationships with key music industry stakeholders.
• That move signals long-term deal-making, not short-term damage control.

Why the Human Artistry Campaign escalated

• The coalition argues that massive volumes of creative content were copied online without payment.
• The warning is economic as much as ethical.
• Creators say continued unauthorized use risks making original work financially impossible.

The bigger takeaway

• This is not framed as anti-AI.
• It is framed as pro-consent, pro-compensation, and pro-sustainability.
• The message stays blunt: innovation without permission is not innovation.