The UK Government had originally proposed a commercial research exception to copyright law, which would loosen restrictions on AI companies’ use of copyrighted materials. The proposal would allow AI developers to use copyrighted material to train their datasets under a text and data mining exception, unless users explicitly opted out. 

In simple terms, AI developers would have been allowed to use the work of authors, musicians, photographers and publishers without their approval to train AI models. 

The original proposal was met with extensive criticism, with backlash from key industry figures such as Elton John, Dua Lipa and Richard Osman. 

Speaking to the BBC, Elton John said the original plans would “rob young people of their legacy and their income”. 

In an update today, technology secretary Liz Kendall commented: “We have listened”. Kendall said that following extensive engagement with both creative and AI industry leaders, the government was now attempting to reform their proposals to ensure creatives can “control how their work is used”, without inhibiting AI progress.

The government’s new Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence, has struggled to reach consensus on how to protect the interests of both groups. 

The government has conducted a separate Copyright and AI Impact Assessment in conjunction with the report, which acknowledges that whilst creatives make a huge contribution to the UK economy (estimated at £146 billion GVA in 2024), the AI sector contributed £12 billion GVA in 2024, but is growing 23x faster than the rest of the economy. 

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The report states they plan to protect “the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse, while unlocking the extraordinary potential of AI to grow the economy and improve lives”. 

Whilst AI developers are looking for more flexibility to apply to copyright laws, creatives are hoping for the opposite. They are calling for legislation which allows creatives to opt in to their work being used, enforces that AI companies declare their use of copyrighted material, and for fair remuneration to be paid when creatives work is used. 

At present, no firm decision has been made about how to proceed. However, the government has committed that they won’t change copyright laws “until we are confident that they will meet our objectives for the economy and UK citizens.”