A united front from UK media and artists pressures the government to rethink its AI copyright reforms.
For once, Britain’s newspapers are in agreement. Readers picking up their morning papers on February 25th found a coordinated front-page campaign, “Make It Fair”, opposing government proposals that could weaken copyright protections against artificial intelligence.
The campaign, backed by major publishing and creative organizations, warns that allowing AI models to train on copyrighted material without permission or fair compensation could have dire consequences for the country’s £120 billion ($152 billion) creative sector.
The controversy stems from a UK government consultation that closed today. Launched on December 17th, the consultation proposed exceptions to copyright law, allowing AI companies to mine copyrighted material, including journalism, music, film, and literature, for commercial purposes.
Creators could theoretically opt out through a “rights reservation” process, but critics argue this shifts the burden onto individuals rather than the technology firms seeking to profit from their work.
The pushback has been swift and widespread. The Make It Fair initiative is spearheaded by the News Media Association (NMA), representing major publishers such as The Sun, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, and The Guardian. It is also backed by the Creative Rights in AI Coalition, a group of rights holders and AI businesses advocating for greater transparency and compensation in generative AI.
In a parallel protest, more than 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush and Damon Albarn, released a silent album titled “Is This What We Want?”, highlighting concerns that AI firms could train on music without consent.
At stake is the future of Britain’s creative industries, which contributed £109 billion to the UK economy in 2021 and employed more than 2.3 million people. The sector includes film, television, publishing, advertising, and digital media—fields increasingly vulnerable to AI-generated competition.
Tech companies rely on vast amounts of data to train AI models, often scraping the internet for copyrighted materials. Without regulatory safeguards, critics argue, AI firms could exploit creative content without fair compensation.
“We see AI as a powerful tool and a partner to creativity, but a partnership should be on fair and equal terms,” said Owen Meredith, CEO of the NMA. “If tech firms want to use our content, they must also be willing to compensate creators fairly, just as any responsible business would.”
The BBC has also voiced opposition, calling the proposal “unworkable.” Rhodri Talfan Davies, Director of Nations at the BBC, stated: “We support the Government’s ambition to grow the creative and AI sectors. But we do not believe securing these goals requires changes that weaken how content is protected under the UK’s Intellectual Property regime.”
The UK government’s proposals reflect a growing global debate over AI and copyright. Proponents argue that loosening copyright restrictions will foster AI innovation, keeping Britain competitive in an industry dominated by the US and China.
AI firms claim that restrictive copyright laws could stifle technological advancements and limit the development of AI-driven research, automation, and creative tools.
However, opponents warn of long-term economic consequences if copyright protections are eroded. Allowing AI firms to freely use creative content could undermine revenue streams for publishers, musicians, and filmmakers.
The result, they argue, could be a creative ecosystem where artists struggle to compete with AI-generated content that borrows heavily from their work.
Other countries are grappling with similar challenges. The European Union’s AI Act seeks to enforce transparency rules requiring AI developers to disclose their training data sources, while the US is facing legal battles over whether AI-generated works can be copyrighted at all.
What happens next?
With the consultation now closed, the UK government must weigh public and industry feedback before finalizing its policy.
While no timeline has been set for legislative changes, officials have indicated that AI-related copyright reforms are on the horizon. The outcome will determine whether Britain’s creative industries remain protected or whether AI firms gain broader access to intellectual property.
