Both our creative industries and our AI sector are UK strengths. They are vital to our national mission to grow the economy. This consultation sets out our plan to deliver a copyright and AI framework that rewards human creativity, incentivises innovation and provides the legal certainty required for long-term growth in both sectors.
At present, the application of UK copyright law to the training of AI models is disputed. Rights holders are finding it difficult to control the use of their works in training AI models and seek to be remunerated for its use. AI developers are similarly finding it difficult to navigate copyright law in the UK, and this legal uncertainty is undermining investment in and adoption of AI technology.
This status quo cannot continue. It risks limiting investment, innovation, and growth in the AI sector, and in the wider economy. It effectively prevents creative industries from exercising their rights.
The full debate pack in relation to this parliamentary debate was published on 22/Apr and is available via the House of Commons Library.
It will be interesting to see the implications of the debate following the vehement protest and anger expressed by copyright owners as part of the consultation process.
Some useful further reading from a legal perspective:
UK Government’s Consultation on Copyright and AI: What’s Next for AI Developers and Creators?
The UK's new AI-copyright consultation: a path to clarity or controversy?
