Over 400 British musicians, writers, and artists, including prominent figures such as Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John, Sir Ian McKellen, and Florence Welch, have issued a public call to the prime minister. They are demanding updates to copyright laws specifically to protect their work from being used to train artificial intelligence models. A letter signed by the extensive group, addressed to Sir Keir Starmer, argues that failing to provide this legal protection would effectively mean them “giving away” their work to tech firms developing AI. The artists also write that this lack of protection puts “the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse” at risk.
Artists’ Core Argument
The artists’ argument, articulated in their letter, highlights their perceived contribution to the economy and culture. The letter states, “We are wealth creators, we reflect and promote the national stories, we are the innovators of the future, and AI needs us as much as it needs energy and computer skills.” This emphasizes their view that their creative output is essential for AI development. They contend that without updated copyright protections, their material is being used without consent or compensation by AI developers, equating it to their work being taken without permission.
Demand for Transparency and Licensing
The letter specifies what the artists want the prime minister to support: an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill. This proposed amendment would require developers to be transparent with copyright owners about using their material to train AI models. Baroness Beeban Kidron is the proponent of this amendment. The letter states that Kidron’s amendment would “allow both AI developers and creators to develop licensing regimes that will allow for human-created content well into the future.” This suggests the artists’ goal is not to halt AI development but to establish a framework that ensures transparency and enables fair licensing agreements for the use of their copyrighted material.
Political Context and Upcoming Vote
The submission of the artists’ letter occurs within a specific political timeframe. The letter comes ahead of a key vote scheduled to take place in the House of Lords on Monday regarding the proposed amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill. Other notable signatories to the letter include author Kazuo Ishiguro, playwright David Hare, singers Kate Bush and Robbie Williams, as well as the band Coldplay, and writers Tom Stoppard and Richard Curtis. Sir Paul McCartney also signed the letter; he had previously told the BBC in January that he was concerned about AI being used to replicate or “rip off” artists’ work.
Government Response
A government spokesperson has provided a response to the artists’ call for action. They stated that the government is currently consulting on a package of measures related to AI and copyright and is hopeful that these measures will be developed in a way that works for both the creative industries and AI companies. The spokesperson added a commitment to protecting creators’ interests in any potential changes, stating, “No changes will be considered unless we are completely satisfied they work for creators,” indicating that creators’ concerns are a key factor in the government’s decision-making process.
Mounting Concern and Past Protests
The artists’ letter adds to mounting concern from artists over the inclusion of their copyrighted works in the data used to develop generative AI systems. These tools, which can produce new content in response to simple text prompts, have become increasingly popular. However, their capabilities have been accompanied by concerns over their data use and energy demand.
The source notes past protests: In February, artists including Annie Lennox and Damon Albarn reportedly released a silent album specifically to protest proposed government changes to copyright law related to AI. The government had carried out a consultation around its initial proposal to allow developers to use creators’ content on the internet to train models unless the rights holders chose to “opt out.” According to The Guardian, ministers were reportedly reconsidering this proposal following backlash from creators.
Government’s Shifting Stance
Kazuo Ishiguro, a Nobel Prize-winning author and signatory, pointed the BBC to an earlier statement where he questioned the fairness of altering copyright laws to benefit corporations at the expense of individual creators. He added that since then, the only limited advance was that it now appeared the government had accepted the opt-out proposals were not likely to be workable. He thought a new consultation to find a fairer scheme was possible, though its meaning remained to be seen. He wrote, “It’s essential that they get this right,” emphasizing the importance of the outcome for creators.
Next Steps and Economic Assessment
In their statement, the government outlined the process following the consultation. They 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.” They added, “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.” This indicates a commitment to further analysis before final decisions are made on the regulatory framework.
