UK Government Delays Planned AI Copyright Reforms After Creative Industry Backlash

Officials had been preparing a response to a two-month consultation examining how AI developers should access copyrighted material. However, ministers now appear set to delay decisions on the issue after the consultation failed to produce strong support for any of the proposed policy options, according to The Financial Times.

One individual familiar with the government’s internal discussions said the issue would effectively be pushed back for further review. “Copyright is going to be kicked down the road,” said one person with knowledge of the government’s planned response, according to The Financial Times.

The consultation process, which explored different models for regulating AI companies’ use of copyrighted content, revealed widespread disagreement with the government’s initial proposals. As a result, ministers are reportedly reconsidering their approach and planning to gather additional evidence while extending discussions with industry stakeholders, per The Financial Times.

People briefed on the process indicated that new legislation is unlikely to be introduced soon. According to The Financial Times, officials close to the matter now believe an AI-focused bill will not appear in the King’s Speech expected in May. Instead, any formal policy or legislative changes may be pushed into next year while the government reassesses its options.

The delay reflects growing pressure from creative professionals and media companies who have warned that loosening copyright protections could harm the UK’s cultural industries. Those close to the consultation process said ministers had taken note of protests and concerns that AI systems might replicate or exploit copyrighted works without adequate compensation, according to The Financial Times.

Related: Supreme Court Declines to Weigh In on Copyright Protection for AI-Generated Art

For several years, technology companies and media organisations have been lobbying the government over how AI models should be trained on online content. Tech firms — including companies such as Google’s parent group Alphabet — have argued that developers should be able to scan and analyze material across the internet to train AI systems, with publishers and creators given the option to opt out, according to The Financial Times.

Many publishers, filmmakers and broadcasters strongly oppose that model. Critics argue that forcing rights holders to opt out would place an unfair burden on creators and could expose their work to misuse. Eric Fellner, co-chair of Working Title Films, described the opt-out proposal as an “existential threat” to Britain’s creative industries, according to The Financial Times.

Opposition intensified last year when earlier proposals to broaden access to copyrighted material for AI training prompted demonstrations from artists and media companies. Among the protests was the release of a “silent album” designed to highlight the potential consequences of AI systems reproducing creative works without permission, according to The Financial Times.

Media executives have also warned policymakers against establishing broad copyright exemptions for AI developers similar to those granted to academic researchers. Many companies in the sector prefer negotiating individual licensing agreements with AI firms rather than relying on government-designed frameworks, according to The Financial Times.

Concerns about the risks to the creative economy were echoed in a recent parliamentary report. The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee cautioned that “it would be a very poor bet for the government to allow changes to copyright that could undermine the UK’s creative industries,” according to The Financial Times.

Source: The Financial Times