The UK government has backed away from plans to introduce an exception to copyright law that would allow AI companies to use songwriters’ work without permission.
The government was in favor of allowing AI developers to use copyrighted works to train machines, with rights holders having the option to opt out.
But that approach was “overwhelmingly rejected by the majority of the creative industries”, Innovation and Technology Minister Liz Kendall said on Wednesday.
Because of this, she announced that “the government no longer has a preferred option.”
The course change was announced in a statement from Liz Kendall.
The decision was hailed by the Ivors Academy, which represents songwriters and composers, as a “first step” to avoid a “worst outcome”.
The Government has been urged by UK Music and other creative organizations to go further.
Tom Keel, head of UK Music, said: “We urge them to go further and rule out reviving this scheme during their term in office.”
“The 220,000 people in our sector who generate £8 billion for the UK economy should have the right to work and earn a living without constant fear that the fruits of their labor may be effectively usurped by AI companies without pay.”
The government is currently planning to launch a consultation in the summer on how to deal with the harm caused by unauthorized “digital replicas” while protecting legitimate innovation.
The plans sparked widespread outrage within the creative industries.
Producer Giles Martin described the now-abandoned plan to allow AI companies to use artists’ work without their permission unless the creator opts out, like allowing criminals to break into your home unless you say otherwise.
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Sir Elton John and Simon Cowell were among the celebrities who backed the campaign against the government’s previous proposals.
More than 1,000 artists and musicians have participated so far, including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, Sam Fender and Annie Lennox. recorded a silent album of protest upon proposed changes.
Concerns about unfair material mining by AI companies have been growing in various fields in recent years.
Sky News chairman David Rhodes has announced that Sky News has helped form the Publisher Usage Rights Standards Coalition.
Sky News announced this in February. Formation of Publisher Usage Rights Standards Coalition (SPUR) is working with other leading news organizations to develop industry standards for the fair use of AI-powered materials.
The coalition said that while the rise of AI presents opportunities for publishers and their audiences, it also “raises urgent questions about fairness, consent, attribution, transparency and trust.”
“The lack of transparency around how AI answers are created risks undermining public trust in both the news and the technology used to access it,” the group added.
