UK Government Launches Consultation on Copyright Laws for Creative Industries and AI Developers

The UK government has launched a public consultation to clarify copyright laws in response to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on creative industries. This initiative aims to ensure a balanced approach, protecting the rights of creators while enabling innovation in AI technologies.

As AI systems become increasingly capable of generating art, music, and other creative works, questions have emerged about how copyright should apply to AI-generated content.

The consultation seeks views on proposals to deliver against the government’s objectives for this area, which are:

• Boosting trust and transparency between sectors, by ensuring AI developers provide right holders with greater clarity about how they use their material.
• Enhancing right holders’ control over whether or not their works are used to train AI models, and their ability to be paid for its use where they so wish.
• Ensuring AI developers have access to high-quality material to train leading AI models in the UK and support innovation across the UK AI sector.

The proposals aim to provide greater certainty for businesses and creators, fostering an environment that encourages collaboration between technology and the arts.  By addressing these questions, the government hopes to establish the UK as a global leader in both creative innovation and ethical AI development.

The consultation is open until 25 February 2025 inviting responses from creative professionals, technology companies, legal experts, and the public. Feedback will shape future copyright regulations to ensure they remain fit for purpose in the digital age.

To learn more or share your views, visit the UK Government’s consultation page Consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence – Intellectual Property Office – Citizen Space