More than 400 creatives, media and business leaders have written to the Prime Minister, urging him to give government support to proposals that would protect copyright in relation to AI.
It comes ahead of a crunch vote on the plans in the House of Lords on Monday (May 12).
The open letter is the latest step in the pushback against AI proposals, following the coordinated Make It Fair Campaign. Opposition to the government’s proposals soon emerged as a consultation process launched. Recent proposed concessions have not been considered as adequate by the music industry.
Musicians, creative industry leaders and politicians gathered at Westminster last week for a media call organised by UK Music as part of the campaign against government plans.
During the subsequent Parliamentary process, however, the government removed proposed safeguards at the committee stage.
Signatories to the letter include Elton John, David Furnish, Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, Florence Welch, Kate Bush, Coldplay, Shirley Bassey, Wretch 32 and Robbie Williams, as well as industry figures such as Sir Lucian Grainge (UMG), Dickon Stainer (Universal Music UK), Jason Iley (Sony Music UK), Tony Harlow (Warner Music UK), Alistair Norbury (BMG), David Ventura (Sony Music Publishing), Tim Major (Sony Music Publishing), Nickie Owen (Universal Music UK), Barrie Marshall (Marshall Arts), Dr Jo Twist (BPI), YolanDa Brown (BPI), Sophie Jones (BPI), Crispin Hunt (PRS) and Glastonbury’s Emily Eavis.
The letter warns: “We will lose an immense growth opportunity if we give our work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies and with it our future income, the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse, and any hope that the technology of daily life will embody the values and laws of the United Kingdom.”
The letter calls on Sir Keir Starmer to back Baroness Beeban Kidron’s amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which would give the UK creative industries transparency over the copyrighted works ingested by AI models. This would allow creators and creative businesses to hold AI firms accountable for the theft of creative works that continues to take place.
The UK creative industries must not be sacrificed to the interests of a handful of US tech companies
Baroness Kidron
The letter continues: “The first job of any government is to protect its citizens. So, we urge His Majesty’s Government to accept the Lords Amendments in the name of Baroness Kidron that put transparency at the heart of the copyright regime and allow both AI developers and creators to develop licensing regimes that will allow for human-created content well into the future. These amendments recognise the crucial role that creative content plays in the development of generative AI. They will spur a dynamic licensing market that will enhance the role of human creativity in the UK, positioning us as a key player in the global AI supply chain."
The amendments have been tabled ahead of the first day of ‘Ping Pong’ in the Lords, where provisions that would make copyright law enforceable were supported on a cross-party basis earlier this year. The amendment creates a requirement for AI firms to tell copyright owners which individual works they have ingested.
Following a partial UK-US trade agreement this week, a “technology partnership” is set to be negotiated between the two countries.
Baroness Kidron said: “The creative industries welcome the new frontier of creativity offered by advances in AI, but how AI is developed and who it benefits are two of the most important questions of our time.
“The UK creative industries reflect our national stories, drive tourism, create wealth for the nation and provide 2.4 million jobs across our four nations. They must not be sacrificed to the interests of a handful of US tech companies. Nor should we underestimate the role of human creativity in the joy of being human nor the need for common facts to cement our collective experience.”
Baroness Kidron added: “The UK is in a unique position to take its place as a global player in the international AI supply chain, but to grasp that opportunity requires the transparency provided for in my amendments, which are essential to create a vibrant licensing market. I am grateful to the extraordinary list of signatories to today’s letter to the Prime Minister. Behind them stands the thousands of technicians, roadies, agents, costumers, make up, set designers, production and post-production staff, subeditors, and many more who make their work possible. Today they are raising their voice for all those who make the UK an economic powerhouse of creativity and innovation. Most importantly, they are speaking out to ensure a positive future for the next generation of creators and innovators.”
In a statement, the government said: "It's vital we take the time to work through the range of responses to our consultation, but equally important that we put in the groundwork now as we consider the next steps. That is why we have committed to publishing a report and economic impact assessment – exploring the broad range of issues and options on all sides of the debate."
You can read the letter in full here.
PHOTO: Tyrone Lebon
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