The UK Government has opened a public consultation to address the challenges and opportunities posed by the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright law. The initiative seeks to establish a balanced framework that supports innovation in AI while safeguarding the rights of creators and the creative industries.
The consultation highlights the UK’s dual strengths in the creative and AI sectors. The government emphasizes that achieving legal clarity and fostering collaboration between these industries is essential for the nation’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
The UK’s creative industries, including music, publishing, and film, contribute £124.8 billion annually to the economy. At the same time, the AI sector represents a transformative opportunity, with the potential to unlock productivity gains of up to 1.5 percentage points annually, according to the International Monetary Fund. However, unresolved legal issues around copyright and AI training data risk stifling investment and innovation.
Creators argue that AI models often use their work without permission, while AI developers face uncertainty about how copyright law applies to their activities. These disputes have led to stalled investment in AI development within the UK and a reliance on training models in jurisdictions with more permissive or clearer rules.
The government is seeking input on a proposed three-pronged approach to address these challenges:
- Enhanced Transparency
AI developers would be required to disclose the sources of training data and the methods used to acquire it. This measure aims to build trust between creators and AI firms, ensuring creators understand how their works are utilized.
- Data Mining Exception with Rights Reservation
A new legal mechanism would allow creators to reserve their rights explicitly, preventing the use of their works for AI training without a license. The proposal balances the need for creators to retain control and receive remuneration with AI developers’ need for broad access to high-quality data.
- Licensing Frameworks and Technical Standards
The government proposes supporting collective licensing models and standardized rights reservation protocols to streamline agreements between creators and AI firms. Tools like metadata-based rights reservations and more granular web crawler controls are also under consideration.
The consultation also tackles complex questions about AI-generated content. Current UK law provides copyright protection for computer-generated works without a human author, but this provision has faced criticism for its lack of clarity and limited practical application. The government is seeking views on whether to reform or repeal these protections.
Additionally, concerns over “digital replicas” created using AI—such as deepfake images or synthesized voices—are being addressed. The government plans to explore whether individuals need stronger rights to control the use of their likeness in AI-generated content.
The consultation invites responses from creators, AI developers, and the public to shape a framework that fosters mutual growth. Ministers acknowledge that success will require both policy and technical innovation, as well as close collaboration between stakeholders.
The consultation will run until February 25, 2025, with responses used to inform future legislative and regulatory actions.
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