Key Points
- The UK government is “resetting” its plans to overhaul copyright rules for AI.
- The initial proposal, which favored AI developers, was widely rejected by the creative industries.
- The government now says it will prioritize protecting creators’ rights to be paid and to control their work.
- The new approach will be more “nuanced” and will involve working with the creative industries.
The British government is backing away from a controversial plan to overhaul its copyright laws to accommodate artificial intelligence. Technology Minister Liz Kendall said on Tuesday that the government is seeking a “reset” on the issue, promising to protect creators while still unlocking the economic potential of AI.
The creative industries, from artists and writers to musicians and filmmakers, have been vocal about AI systems that are trained on their work without permission or compensation. The UK government, in its push to become an “AI superpower,” had initially proposed a system that would allow AI developers to use any material they could legally access, with creators having to actively “opt out.”
That idea was a huge mistake, ministers now say.
Kendall told a committee of lawmakers that the government’s review of the issue, which is due in March, will be a “genuine reset moment.” She said that the creative industry’s two main concerns — getting paid for their work and having control over their art — are “incredibly important.”
Culture Minister Lisa Nandy, who appeared alongside Kendall, agreed. She said the “opt-out” model was widely rejected and that the government now needs to take a “far more nuanced approach.”
“We have to work with different parts of the creative industries to address the very serious and in some cases existential challenge that is posed by the current system,” she said.
This is a significant shift in tone from the government, and it’s a major victory for the creative industries, which have been fighting for their rights in the age of AI. The government’s new approach will likely involve more collaboration with creators to find a solution that works for everyone.
