A coalition of UK creative industries, including musicians, photographers, and newspapers, has rejected the Labour government's proposal to allow artificial intelligence companies to use copyrighted material for training unless rights holders opt out. The Creative Rights in AI Coalition (Crac) insists that existing copyright laws must be respected and enforced.
The joint statement, signed by bodies such as the British Phonographic Industry, the Society of Authors, and major publishers including the Guardian and the Financial Times, opposes the plan announced by technology minister Chris Bryant. The proposal, subject to a 10-week consultation, aims to improve AI developers' access to content while allowing rights holders to control usage.
Critics argue the opt-out system places an unfair burden on creators. In a House of Lords debate, Baroness Beeban Kidron compared it to asking shopkeepers to 'opt out of shoplifters'. The creative industries demand that AI developers seek permission, agree licences, and pay for copyrighted works used in training.
High-profile figures including Paul McCartney and Kate Bush have backed a petition against unlicensed AI training, which has garnered over 37,500 signatures. The government maintains that a flexible approach is needed to avoid disadvantaging UK AI developers, while the opposition and industry groups call for stronger copyright enforcement.
