The UK government has launched a consultation with the AI and creative sectors to explore potential legal frameworks for training AI models on copyrighted material.
The proposals, released on December 17, aim to address the growing uncertainty around copyright laws and their impact on both industries. The government seeks feedback on four possible policy options by February 25, 2025.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, stated “It’s clear that our current AI and copyright framework does not support either our creative industries or our AI sectors to compete on the global stage.”
One proposed policy would allow AI companies to use copyrighted content freely, with minimal restrictions. Another option suggests a “right-to-opt-out” model, where creative professionals could choose whether their work is used to train AI. A third option would tighten copyright laws, requiring licenses for all AI training.
However, these proposals have faced strong criticism. Ed Newton-Rex, a British composer and CEO of Fairly Trained, warned that the changes would favor AI companies at the expense of creators, allowing them to train AI on copyrighted work without permission.
Owen Meredith, CEO of the News Media Association, argued that the government should focus on stronger enforcement and transparency within the current framework rather than introducing new, potentially harmful policies.
As the consultation moves forward, the debate over AI and copyright continues to heat up, with concerns about protecting the rights of creators.
