UK Writers and Media Oppose Labour Party’s AI Copyright Exemption Plan

Creators and media organisations have opposed the Labour government’s plan to let AI companies train algorithms on copyrighted works without permission.

In a joint statement, groups representing thousands of creatives criticized the proposal, which would let companies like OpenAI, Google, and Meta use published works unless owners actively opt out.

The Creative Rights in AI Coalition (Crac) insisted that existing copyright laws must be upheld, not weakened.

The coalition includes organisations such as the British Phonographic Industry, Independent Society of Musicians, Motion Picture Association, Society of Authors, and major media outlets like the Guardian, Financial Times, Telegraph, and Getty Images.

Their response follows a statement by technology and culture minister Chris Bryant, who claimed the plan, under a 10-week consultation, would improve AI developers' access to content while preserving rights holders' control.

Creative industries demand that AI developers seek permission, negotiate licenses, and pay rights holders to use their work for training algorithms capable of creating text, images, music, and videos.