Sony Criticises Government AI Plans Risking Billions in UK Music Industry

Sony Music, one of the world’s leading entertainment companies, has strongly criticised the UK government’s proposed changes to copyright laws. The government intends to create an exemption allowing artificial intelligence (AI) developers to mine video, audio, and text content without explicit permission unless creators opt out. Sony has warned that these reforms could undermine both the creative industries and the UK’s future economic contributions.

In a submission seen by The Sunday Times, Sony referred to the proposed opt-out mechanism as “unworkable and illusory.” It expressed concerns that failing to tag even a single copy of a work accessible online could lead to its exploitation without proper protection. The company compared this to requiring homeowners to tag their possessions to prevent burglary, arguing this would absolve the government of its responsibility to protect intellectual property.

Sony has highlighted its significant investments in the UK, totalling over £1 billion in artist development, marketing, and promotion over the past decade. The submission also shared an estimate of the music industry’s worth, £7.6 billion annually, underscoring its importance to the British economy. Sony emphasised that rushed or poorly planned legislative reform could jeopardise this established success.

The music industry giant has a long history, tracing its roots back to the 1889 founding of Columbia Records. Now part of the Sony Corporation, headquartered in Japan, its stable of globally influential artists includes Beyoncé, Adele, and SZA. Despite generating more than £8 billion in global revenues last year, Sony has warned that these UK reforms would make licensing AI developers more difficult and less likely, placing future investments in doubt.

Prominent figures within the arts have lent their voices to this debate. Music legends such as Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney are among those raising concerns that creators’ rights will be diminished if the government goes ahead with its proposals. Sony argued that altering decades of established intellectual property law raises unnecessary risks for the AI sector and the wider creative economy.

The government claims that the current UK copyright framework is holding back progress at the intersection of tech and creativity. A spokesperson noted that input from numerous stakeholders would be reviewed before any final decisions are made. They stressed that the ultimate goal would be to create a practical approach delivering success for both industry and innovation. However, critics argue that the existing framework already provides legal clarity, facilitating licensing agreements while fairly compensating rights holders. Sony and others believe preserving this balance is crucial to ensure economic growth and creative integrity.