The UK government has backtracked on its position on how artificial intelligence companies should be allowed to use copyrighted material without seeking permission from artists or rightsholders.
UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall on Wednesday (March 18) announced that the government “no longer has a preferred option” on AI copyright reform.
“We have listened. We have engaged extensively with creatives, AI firms, industry bodies, unions, academics and AI adopters, and that engagement has shaped our approach.”
The statement marks a reversal from the government’s earlier stance, which would have allowed AI developers to train models on copyrighted works unless rightsholders explicitly opted out.
The Times reported on March 6 that a “commercial research exception” is one of several proposals officials are preparing ahead of the March 18 parliamentary statement on copyright reform.
“We have listened. We have engaged extensively with creatives, AI firms, industry bodies, unions, academics and AI adopters, and that engagement has shaped our approach.”
Liz Kendall, UK Technology Secretary
If the government hadn’t backtracked on its stance, AI developers would have been free to use copyrighted material for training purposes without obtaining permission, but would need to secure licenses from rightsholders before bringing any resulting products to market.
That approach drew renewed opposition from the creative sector, with Sophie Jones, Director of Strategy at the BPI, which represents the UK’s recorded music industry, describing the eported commercial research exception as “deeply troubling”, telling Charting Gen AI that it “would give AI developers even more power to steal music for commercial purposes than the earlier mooted — and now discredited — TDM with opt-out.”
Last year, more than 400 artists and industry figures, including Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Shirley Bassey, signed a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging his government to back proposed amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill that would require AI companies to be transparent about the copyrighted materials used to train their models.
Meanwhile, the reversal follows a consultation process. Kendall said that while the government preferred to let AI developers train on copyrighted work, “This was overwhelmingly rejected by the vast majority of the creative industries.”
Kendall noted that the creative sector contributes GBP £146 billion ($194 billion) to the UK economy and accounts for 7% of all UK jobs. The AI industry, meanwhile, is growing 23 times faster than the rest of the economy, the secretary said.
“We are rapidly moving to a more sophisticated world of agents and AI being embodied in the physical world, such as in robotics. This technology is too important for the UK to be overly dependent on a small number of firms based in other countries. The UK must be an AI maker, not an AI taker,” Kendall said.
“This technology is too important for the UK to be overly dependent on a small number of firms based in other countries. The UK must be an AI maker, not an AI taker.”
Liz Kendall, UK Technology Secretary
The latest statement was welcomed by trade organizations. Tom Kiehl, CEO of UK Music, which represents musicians, record labels, artist managers and publishers, said: ““We support the Government’s decision to push the reset button on the debate on AI and copyright… The 220,000 people in our sector which generates £8 billion ($10.6 billion) for the UK economy should be entitled to work and earn a living without the constant fear that the fruits of their labour could effectively be taken by AI firms without payment or permission.”
Paul W Fleming, General Secretary of performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity, said: “The pause announced today is recognition that selling out the UK’s creative industries to benefit US tech companies would’ve been an act of national self-sabotage. The UK should be the best place on the planet to create, supporting the government’s growth agenda through a strong copyright regime and respect for creative workers.”
“The pause announced today is recognition that selling out the UK’s creative industries to benefit US tech companies would’ve been an act of national self-sabotage.”
Paul W Fleming, Equity
The Society of Authors, a UK trade union for professional writers, illustrators and literary translators, described the government’s move as a “hard-won moment for authors and creators.”
Anna Ganley, CEO of Society of Authors, said: “The commitment to a four-strand work programme looking at Digital Replicas, AI Labelling, Creator Control and Transparency, and a working group for Independent Creatives all have the potential to support policies the SoA have been campaigning for to strengthen protection and control.”
Kendall said: “[O]ur approach to copyright will be driven by our shared principles and values. This means protecting the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse while unlocking the extraordinary potential of AI-driven innovation to grow the economy and improve British lives.”
The government will now shift its AI focus to “digital replicas,” labelling AI-generated content, creator control and transparency, and exploring whether there is a role for the government to support independent creatives’ ability to license their content, said Kendall.
Music Business Worldwide
