The EU AI Act

When you need an attorney to help understand the EU AI Act, it is critical to find an attorney with significant experience in Europe. My career began with training as a barrister in London, having earned my law degree at King’s College, Cambridge University. Early in my practice, I argued cases in Magistrates' Courts, the High Courts, and the Old Bailey. Later on, I lived and worked as a barrister in the British Virgin Islands. Together, this experience gave me a foundation in both British and European legal systems before establishing my arts and entertainment law practice in New York. As regulations in Europe continue to influence global creative industries, that background provides helpful context for understanding new developments like the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act.

AI is now woven into almost every corner of the creative sector. Musicians use it for composition or mixing. Filmmakers rely on AI tools for editing, color correction, and visual effects. Streaming platforms use algorithms that shape how content is recommended and consumed. Creators who work with or distribute content through these systems already feel the effects of AI. As the technology expands, the legal questions surrounding ownership, licensing, and creative control become more complicated. The EU's AI Act aims to address some of these questions by setting rules for how AI systems can operate.

The EU AI Act introduces several changes that matter for creative professionals. Copyright protection is a central piece. AI systems are not allowed to train on copyrighted material without permission. This is in response to long-standing concerns from artists and rights holders whose work has been used to build large datasets without consent. For musicians, filmmakers and visual artists, the act strengthens the ability to stop unauthorized use of their work in AI training.

Transparency is another major requirement, mandating that any image, audio recording, or video produced with AI must be labeled clearly. This helps audiences distinguish between human-created and AI-generated or altered content, adding a layer of clarity around attribution and authorship for creators. Data privacy also plays a role. If an AI system processes personal information or creative work, the act gives individuals more control over how that information is handled. The goal is to provide stronger safeguards as AI becomes more deeply connected to both creative processes and distribution platforms.

The EU AI Act is the first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence. It organizes AI systems into distinct risk levels, each with specific obligations. For example:

• Unacceptable risk systems (systems designed to manipulate behavior or create social scoring) are banned.

• High-risk systems (those affecting safety or fundamental rights) must meet strict requirements for transparency, accuracy, monitoring, and oversight.

• General-purpose AI models (like those that generate text or images) are subject to specific scrutiny, requiring providers to document training data and follow EU copyright law.

General-purpose AI models, including systems that generate text, audio, or images, are subject to additional scrutiny. Providers must document their training data sources, follow EU copyright law, and publish summaries of the categories of content used for training. These obligations began rolling out in 2025 and will continue into 2026.

Although it is an EU law, the Act applies to companies outside Europe if their AI tools are offered in the EU market or if the output of those tools is used within the EU. Many American developers fall into this category, especially those designing tools for music, film, or digital content. The law also reinforces the rights of creators whose work may be used by AI developers. If your content appears in datasets without permission, the Act supports stronger claims and clearer enforcement paths.

For artists and creative professionals, the most important takeaway is that AI regulation is moving quickly. Copyright registration, licensing clarity, and contract review remain essential. As AI becomes more common in creative workflows, understanding how this law treats your work can help protect your rights and inform the decisions you make about the tools you use.

At Hrbek Law, we stay on top of how AI regulations affect creative work. Contact us today if you need assistance navigating copyright, AI tools, or how European rules might impact your contracts.