UK Government Considers AI Copyright Reforms Amid Creative Industry Backlash

UK ministers mulling to change AI plans to protect creative industries

Exclusive: partial climbdown over use of work protected by copyright considered after intense lobbying by top artists Ministers are planning to offer key concessions to their plans to make it easier for artificial intelligence companies to use copyright-protected work, in a partial climbdown after weeks of lobbying from some of the world's most famous artists. Sources have told the Guardian that ministers have accepted the need to protect British creative industries from the plans, which would otherwise have made their work available for access by AI companies unless they deliberately opted out. The proposals have been championed by the technology industry but have also sparked a backlash from some of the creative industry's leading lights, including Elton John, Damon Albarn and the film director Beeban Kidron. People aware of the discussions say officials are discussing a range of changes to the plans, which would exempt certain sectors from the opt-out system and would give preferential access to British AI companies. One said: "Ministers would very much like to find something everyone can work with. Abandoning the plans altogether is not seen as an option as it would put British AI companies at a disadvantage, but there are ways to protect certain sectors which are particularly important, and to make sure big US technology giants are not getting all the benefit." The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology did not respond to a request for comment. The plan to grant an exemption to UK copyright rules for AI companies looking to train their models was announced earlier this year as part of a cross-government push to boost the British AI industry. The AI models powering systems such as ChatGPT use vast amounts of data taken from the internet and learn to spot patterns in it. This allows them to produce comprehensible text, plausible images and convincing audio. It has prompted an angry response from British artists, however, with Paul McCartney saying AI "could just take over". Elton John, one of Labour's most prominent backers at the last election, said this weekend the plans would "destroy the UK's leadership" in the music industry. More than 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn and Annie Lennox, released a silent album on Tuesday in protest against the plans. Faced with a concerted backlash from some of the country's most famous celebrities, officials are looking for ways to offer them extra protections. One could be to allow creative industries to opt in to the new system, while offering AI companies the use of mass media such as journalism for free unless those companies opted out. Another would be to allow British AI companies to benefit from an opt-out system, while forcing their US counterparts to secure consent before accessing copyrighted material. Ministers say they are keen to protect British creative producers in their final plans, which will be announced later this year. Speaking to reporters during a trade mission to Delhi, the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said creators have "got to be able to earn a decent living... [that is] absolutely something we have to embed for the future". He added that ministers had got to get the balance right on copyright and were listening to the concerns of creative industries. "We absolutely believe the creative industries are essential to the UK in both economic and cultural terms and we want to build on that strength," he said. Others, however, are sceptical about any concessions the government could offer without abandoning its plans altogether. One music industry insider consulted on the proposals said: "Officials have repeatedly promised to offer 'guardrails' to protect the creative industries, but they have not said exactly how they would work. "The idea of tearing up copyright law for some sectors but not for others is frankly a nonsense."

Elton John calls for UK copyright rules rethink to protect creators from AI

The star has urged for a shift away from plans where artists must opt out of a system allowing AI free use of any online work Sir Elton John has called on the government to rethink proposals involving the relaxation of copyright rules in the hope of protecting creative talent from AI. The singer and songwriter is among a growing list of public figures to express concerns about plans that would allow tech firms to use online material, including creative work, for AI without permission. Under current government proposals, creators would need to opt out of their work being used, however some of the campaign's advocates, including Simon Cowell and the author Kate Mosse, have called for an opt-in system in place. "We only achieved that success with the backing of our longstanding copyright protection - the world's gold standard," John told the Daily Mail, while highlighting the industry's impact on creating jobs and economic growth. "The music community has always been quick to adopt new technologies ... but adoption of this copyright exception would destroy the UK's leadership that has been hard won, and what's worse, it would give it all away. For nothing." Last month, John backed Paul McCartney in criticising a proposed overhaul of the UK copyright system, and has called for new rules to prevent tech companies from riding "roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists' livelihoods". Similarly, Cowell said a failure to regulate AI properly risked artists and people working behind the scenes "being wiped out". "The thought that anyone would believe they have the right to blindly give this country's creative ideas away - for nothing - is just wrong," he wrote in the Mail. "I passionately care about people's personal creativity - and AI shouldn't be able to steal the talent of those humans who created the magic in the first place. "Anyone who is able to create something they passionately care about deserves to have their work protected." Other figures supporting the campaign include the singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading and the Bafta-winning composer Nick Foster. Many figures in the music world have spoken out about AI's threat to creativity, with artists including Billie Eilish and Stevie Wonder signing an open letter last year calling for protections against the predatory use of artificial intelligence. The letter, issued by the Artist Rights Alliance advocacy group, broadly called for tech companies to pledge not to develop AI tools that could replace or undermine human songwriters and artists. Separately, Nick Cave called lyrics written by ChatGPT "a grotesque mockery of what it is to be human" in 2023. However, Daniel Bedingfield took the opposite view, called AI the future of music. "AI is now here for ever," he said last year. "And so I think that there will be two paths: there'll be the neo-luddite path, and then there'll be everyone else, most of the planet, who thinks the music's really good and enjoys it."

Elton John demands change in United Kingdom copyright rules to protect artists from AI exploitation

Sir Elton John has joined a growing group of public figures calling for a major rethink on the United Kingdom's proposed copyright rule changes. The celebrated singer believes the current plan, which allows tech companies to use creative works for artificial intelligence projects without permission, could severely damage the livelihoods of artists. Under the current proposal, creators would need to actively opt out of their work being used by AI, a system that many, including John, believe would undermine the UK's leadership in copyright protection. The legendary musician, known for his impact on both the music industry and job creation, expressed concern that these changes could lead to the devaluation of human creativity, allowing tech companies to profit from the hard work of artists without compensation. This issue is gaining traction within the creative world, with other artists like Billie Eilish and Stevie Wonder also demanding stronger protections. However, some, like Daniel Bedingfield, argue that AI will be a key part of the music industry's future. For now, it remains to be seen how the UK government will respond to these mounting concerns.