Major American media conglomerates have issued a stark warning to the UK government regarding potential changes to copyright regulations that would permit artificial intelligence companies to freely utilise their content.
The Copyright Alliance, representing powerhouse organisations such as Disney, Fox, Paramount, and Universal Music, has delivered a three-page letter to British ministers expressing “strong opposition” to proposed AI exceptions in copyright legislation. This intervention arrives mere days before the anticipated launch of a government consultation on AI and creative industries.
Industry leaders harbour significant concerns about a potential scheme allowing AI companies to mine internet content from publishers and artists without explicit permission, operating on an ‘opt-out’ basis. The alliance’s chief executive, Keith Kupferschmid, emphasised that such provisions would “subvert the fundamental nature of copyright” and prove “unworkable in practice”.
The stakes are particularly high given the substantial investments these American media groups make in the UK entertainment sector. The alliance highlighted iconic collaborations such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter, and James Bond as examples of successful UK-US creative partnerships underpinned by robust copyright protection.
British Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has attempted to calm industry fears, stating to a parliamentary select committee that the upcoming consultation would be “genuine” and that no decisions have been finalised. However, the Copyright Alliance maintains that any weakening of copyright protections would create a “legal environment that discourages UK and US creators and rights holders” from investing in British creative endeavours.
The UK government faces mounting pressure to balance its ambitions in AI development with the protection of creative industries’ interests. Their response indicates ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including recent roundtables with AI developers and creative industry representatives, though concrete policy directions remain undefined.
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