Dear Cepic members
Greetings to everyone and thank you for your support as we move Cepic into a new phase of its work for you.
It might be clichéd to say that this is an important time for us, given than there have rarely been times without disruption in our industry of one form or another, but it is hard to find adequate words to describe the seismic shift of AI. While this shift may be felt more strongly by some of us than others, it will have repercussions for all. It’s my job and the job of the new Cepic board to work hard to ensure that this shift is positive and has the potential to drive a successful future. I believe it is and it does, but not without the market frameworks that allow us to operate and to compete fairly.
We will be lobbying alongside our international partners within the EU and beyond; for transparency, for copyright protection and for the ethical use of generative AI.
The recent controversy around ‘fake’ imagery, particularly of the war in Gaza, has raised the profile of the work that we all do to shoot, edit, source, curate, verify, catalogue, conserve, and license effectively. While its catalyst may not be one of our choosing, this spotlight on our sector is an opportunity that Cepic is taking and can use to all of our advantage.
Preparations are under way for an exciting Congress in 2024 where we aim to give everyone the tools they need for success in this new landscape – as well as the chance to unwind, off-load and share views and experiences. We are returning to Juan Les Pins in France, and information is already available on our website. I look forward to meeting you there if our paths have not crossed before.
If you have any issues or concerns or any requests or ideas you’d like to see from Cepic, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at president@cepic.org
In the meantime, here’s to a productive end to the year and a fantastic 2024 for all our members.
With kind regards
Emily Shelley, President
