Creative industry demands protection of copyright in AI debate

Nearly 40 British creative associations, including publishers, authors, and photographers, have urged the government to protect the copyright provisions of the industry, which is worth over 100 billion pounds, ahead of a contentious consultation. The Creative Rights in AI Coalition advocates for a licensing market for the use of creative content in the development of generative AI, not only for reasons of fairness but also as the "only way for both sectors to thrive and grow." This newly formed group is calling on the government to adopt fundamental principles as a framework for developing AI policy, including a licensing market to protect copyright and ensure that content creators retain control over their works and can monitor their use. On Tuesday, the government will launch a consultation on the role of AI in the creative industries, an issue that has become pressing due to concerns about the unpaid reproduction of British creative content by AI companies. The alliance emphasized in a statement to the Financial Times: “The UK creative industries generate well over 100 billion pounds annually. We have earned the right to be heard. The key to this success and future growth is copyright.” The existence of the coalition reflects concerns that the industry is not aligned with the government, even though the rules will have significant implications for British authors, musicians, journalists, and filmmakers. Members of the coalition include, among others, Daily Mail owner DMG, PRS for Music, News Media Association, Publishers Association, Associated Press, Society of Editors, Pan Macmillan, and British Phonographic Industry. The Financial Times is also among the members. Text and data mining by generative AI systems requires automated searching and analysis of large parts of the internet and is crucial for AI development. However, executives fear that the government is consulting regulations that make it more difficult for copyright holders to negotiate agreements over their works with AI companies. Many industry representatives accuse AI companies of already having used their content without permission. An attempt to establish a voluntary code of conduct failed this year, as both sides could not reach a consensus. Culture Minister Lisa Nandy recently stated that the government aims to find the right balance between technological advancements and the protection of the creative industry's rights. New surveys by Reset Tech and YouGov show that the public overwhelmingly supports transparency in AI model training and the payment of royalties to content creators by technology companies.