UK Government launches consultation on creative industries, AI and copyright

The new proposals look to increase clarity over the use of copyright protected materials to train and improve machine learning models. 

According to the official Downing Street announcement, the ‘balanced package’ gives creators control over how their material is used by artificial intelligence developers. The idea is to increase the ability for creatives of all specialisms to get paid for their work and ensure tech companies are being fully transparent about the data they use to build systems and how content is labelled. 

Crucially, if the plans become a reality, AI firms in the UK would have access to a vast archive of training materials, while the legal certainties over royalty payments to access these resources would help alleviate some concerns over the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its impact on a creative industries worth £100billion to the British economy. 

Both sectors are central to Labour’s Industrial Strategy, but in order to realise the huge potential trust and transparency are essential. Without clarity, creators find it difficult to get paid for the use of their work, and AI firms are wary of legal risks, in turn restricting investment and innovation in a nascent field the UK is currently considered a world leader in. 

The consultation is now active, and will run for 10 weeks, closing on 25th February 2025. 

‘This government firmly believes that our musicians, writers, artists and other creatives should have the ability to know and control how their content is used by AI firms and be able to seek licensing deals and fair payment. Achieving this, and ensuring legal certainty, will help our creative and AI sectors grow and innovate together in partnership,’ said Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy.

‘We stand steadfast behind our world-class creative and media industries which add so much to our cultural and economic life. We will work with them and the AI sector to develop this clearer copyright system for the digital age and ensure that any system is workable and easy-to-use for businesses of all sizes,’ she continued. 

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