The Labour government's controversial proposal to allow artificial intelligence companies to freely mine copyrighted material has been met with a decisive public rejection, according to the findings of a major consultation.
Overwhelming Public Support for Stronger Copyright
The consultation, which received so many responses it required a dedicated taskforce of 80 civil servants to analyse, revealed a clear public consensus. An overwhelming 88% of respondents supported strengthening existing copyright law by requiring AI companies to obtain a licence and pay to use creative works.
In stark contrast, Labour's initial plan, which would have forced the creative sector to 'opt out' of having their work used by Big Tech, garnered the backing of just three per cent of those who responded. A further seven per cent believed the current copyright protections should simply be maintained as they are.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) published its progress report on the consultation on Monday, highlighting the deep divide between the creative and tech sectors on this critical issue.
Creative Industry Backlash and Campaign for Fairness
The proposed 'Text and Data Mining' copyright exception has faced fierce criticism from across the UK's world-leading creative industries. High-profile musicians including Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, and Kate Bush have publicly condemned the plans, alongside actors and publishers.
Sir Elton John argued that the UK's creative success is built on robust copyright, stating: "The UK's creative sector is the envy of the world, but we only achieved that success with the backing of our long-standing copyright protection."
Industry bodies were quick to call for the government to heed the public's clear message. Owen Meredith, chief executive of the News Media Association, said Labour must now "definitively rule out any new copyright exception" to end uncertainty. He argued this would push AI developers to strike licensing deals, unlocking investment and ensuring high-quality, trustworthy AI models.
Sophie Jones of the BPI, which represents British record labels, said it was "imperative" the government drops its preferred option, calling it "unnecessary and harmful" to creative jobs.
The Path Forward for AI and Copyright
Campaigner Ed Newton-Rex, who advocates for fair AI compensation, described the findings as an "overwhelming repudiation" of the government's stance. He urged ministers to rule out the new exception immediately if they wish to be seen as listening to the public.
The consultation did find some common ground. Both the creative and tech sectors agreed that any future regulatory changes should aim to minimise bureaucratic red tape. However, their core positions differed sharply: the creative industries demanded transparency from tech firms about the works used for training, while the tech sector advocated for light-touch regulation.
In its conclusion, the consultation report stated: "Copyright laws must protect creative works, whilst also ensuring the UK reaps the transformational benefits of AI and keeps our place as one of the world's top innovators and economies." The government has stated it is continuing to consider all options and will provide a detailed summary in its final report.
