Ministers have reversed their stance on a proposal that would have facilitated unauthorized use of copyrighted material by tech companies for their artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Initially, the government supported a controversial plan allowing high-tech firms to train their AI using articles, songs, and videos without compensation or permission. The proposal sparked backlash from major figures in news, music, and art, who warned of potential harm to the UK’s creative industry.
Technology secretary Liz Kendall announced the government’s shift away from endorsing changes to copyright laws that would have favored big tech firms unless copyright holders opted out. This change came after widespread criticism, including from renowned celebrities like Sir Elton John, who condemned the proposal as “thievery on a high scale.”
Kendall emphasized the importance of fair compensation for creative work and acknowledged the overwhelming rejection of the controversial plans by the majority of the creative industries. The government’s decision was applauded by various creatives and industry associations, such as Equity and UK Music, as a victory for protecting the UK’s creative content and industry growth.
The Chief Executive of the News Media Association, Owen Meredith, welcomed the government’s responsiveness to concerns and urged further action to avoid detrimental exceptions that could harm creative content usage. The government’s reconsideration was seen as a step in the right direction by industry leaders, emphasizing the importance of upholding copyright law and safeguarding creative content from exploitation.