SAG-AFTRA Sponsors A.I. Transparency Bill

On March 18, 2025, in Sacramento, California, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan held a press conference to announce her introduction of a new bill, Assembly Bill 412, created to address transparency and consent concerns regarding generative artificial intelligence models. Representatives from SAG-AFTRA, one of the bill’s sponsors, and representatives from co-sponsors, the Concept Art Association and the National Association of Voice Actors, were present to vocalize their support of its passing.

AB 412, the A.I. Copyright Transparency Act, aims to increase transparency around using copyrighted materials to train A.I. tools and programs, specifically items sourced from performing artists in art, film, television and music, and content creators. If passed, its provisions would require developers to provide copyright owners with information about how their work is obtained to train models and to develop protocols that would enable owners to request such information. Copyright owners could also pursue legal action against developers who fail to provide information upon request.

Said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, “For centuries, copyright law has protected individuals’ and companies’ creative efforts, but unchecked A.I. technology threatens to exploit intellectual property, leaving creators without any legal recourse. SAG-AFTRA is proud to support AB 412, the A.I. Transparency Act, a bill that empowers human creativity by requiring the developer of an A.I. system to provide a list of the copyrighted works used to train the system. Thank you, Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, for your leadership in protecting intellectual property rights in the A.I. age.”

SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer & National Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee Co-Chair Joely Fisher was one of the press conference’s speakers.

“Everything generated by A.I. originates from a human creative source. A.I. can’t do anything on its own and no A.I. algorithm is able to make something out of nothing. So if intellectual property and copyrighted material is being used to train A.I. models, the copyright owners need to know,” said Fisher. “Just as a potter uses their years of training to make unique, tangible objects, performers and writers harvest our unique lived experiences to create less-tangible but undeniably unique experiences for audiences. For those who make their living creating art and telling stories, our intellectual property rights are everything.”

She continued, “We shouldn’t allow these A.I. companies to harvest others’ intellectual property in the dark. AB 412 is sound, rational legislation and SAG-AFTRA is proud to support this bill. Let’s do what needs to be done to get the A.I. Copyright Transparency Act signed into law.”

Later that day, Fisher testified before the Assembly Consumer Protection and Privacy Committee in support of AB 412. The bill passed through the committee with amendments.

Photo: SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher speaks in support of passing the A.I. Copyright Transparency Act during the March 18, 2025, press conference in Sacramento.