In today’s CMU Daily: There has been speculation that the UK government might be considering introducing a new copyright exception for AI companies, something the last government proposed and then rejected. Caroline Dinenage MP, Chair of Parliament’s culture committee, has written to ministers opposing any such plan

Also today: Universal Music has bought [PIAS] Group outright, having first acquired a 49% stake in 2022; Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee, who says he is representing at least 120 people who were allegedly sexually assaulted by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, has filed lawsuits on behalf of six of his clients

Plus: DITZ are CMU Approved

Parliament’s culture committee chair urges ministers to not put “flawed” AI copyright exception back on the agenda 

The Chair of Parliament’s Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee, Caroline Dinenage, has written to ministers Lisa Nandy and Peter Kyle over reports that the new UK government might be re-considering  introducing a copyright exception for the benefit of AI companies. 

The previous government put forward a proposal for - but ultimately rejected - a text and data mining (or ‘TDM’) exception in copyright law that would have allowed technology companies to use copyright protected content for training AI models without seeking permission.

In her letter to the new government, Dinenage refers to that “disastrous policy proposal”, before adding “I have deep concerns that the new government is now seeking to resurrect this flawed notion of a ‘TDM exception’”.  

Should such an exception be introduced, she says, it would  “remove any motivation tech companies would otherwise have to work with the creative industries to devise commercial models that safeguard the incentives and reward for human creativity in the Al era”.

The copyright obligations of tech companies that use copyright protected content to train generative AI models remains under debate around the world...

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Universal buys out [PIAS] founders

Universal Music has taken full ownership of the [PIAS] group, buying out its founders Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot in a deal that will also see the [PIAS] label services business [Integral] become part of the Virgin Music Group, the major’s artist and label services division. 

Gates, who will remain as CEO of [PIAS] and also sit on the Virgin Music board, says the decision to sell the remaining shares in his company to Universal is “a pragmatic one that will allow us to offer a truly global distribution and services platform to the independent music community”. 

“Our existing leadership team”, he adds, “will continue to steer our day-to-day work and nothing will change culturally or commercially for our existing clients and partners; we will still maintain the same values that we have lived by since our launch over 40 years ago”. 

The partnership between Universal and [PIAS], which began with a strategic alliance in 2021, has been closely followed by the indie label community. [PIAS] has been a key player in the independent sector for decades, as both a label owner and a distributor, and has also been an active participant in various indie label trade organisations...

Diddy lawsuit floodgates begin to open: as six more lawsuits are filed, is this the trickle before the torrent?

Another day, another six lawsuits have been filed accusing Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs of sexual assault. 

These six are the first of what is expected to be a flood of lawsuits that will be filed on behalf of Combs’ alleged victims by Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee, who revealed at a press conference earlier this month that he was working with 120 victims to bring litigation targeting Diddy. 

That number could increase sharply after a specific toll-free phone line set up by Buzbee’s law firm for people with allegations against Combs reportedly received thousands of calls. 

Combs, currently in jail after being charged with sex trafficking and racketeering last month, continues to deny all the allegations made against him. 

Responding to the latest lawsuits, a spokesperson says, “the press conference and 1-800 number that preceded today’s barrage of filings were clear attempts to garner publicity. Mr Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defences, and the integrity of the judicial process”.

The new lawsuits have been filed in the New York courts under New York City’s Gender Motivated Violence Act. The litigation involves four men - one of whom was a minor at the time of the alleged assault - and two women, with none of the six named in the legal filings...

🎧 Approved: DITZ

Brighton’s DITZ have carved out a reputation as one of the UK’s standout noise rock bands, blending abrasive post-punk and experimental hardcore into a sound that’s equal parts chaotic and cathartic. 

Known for their blistering live shows, the five-piece distill anger, sarcasm and scorn into taut, explosive tracks that challenge both sonically and thematically.

Their new single ‘Space/Smile’ marks the first taste of their forthcoming album ‘Never Exhale’, due January 2025. A compact, jagged track, ‘Space/Smile’ strips back the band’s typical dynamic swings in favour of a steady, escalating tension. 

C.A. Francis, the band’s razor-edged vocalist, describes it as “all about the escalation”, sidestepping the usual dramatic shifts for something more relentless and claustrophobic.

‘Never Exhale’, the follow-up to 2022’s ‘The Great Regression’, was born in the friction of constant touring, written in stolen moments between shows, rehearsing in borrowed spaces. It’s a record that feels urgent, raw and unyielding, yet filled with nuance - each listen revealing more of its layered themes, from personal demons to socio-political commentary.

DITZ have also announced an extensive EU/UK tour for 2025, kicking off just ahead of the album’s release. Tickets go on sale Tuesday 22 Oct at 10am.

🎧 Listen to Space/Smile here