The UK government has rolled back previously announced plans to introduce a broad copyright exception with an opt-out option for the training of AI models on copyrighted materials.
Announced in a new report published by the Tech Department on Wednesday, the government has shifted away from a plan that would give AI developers essentially free rein to use copyrighted work as training data.
Following a consultation, the government chose to pause plans for this framework and has instead said it will work with experts to establish a transparent regime of input data that will allow creators to identify if their work is being unfairly used.
Also included in the report are plans to remove copyright protection for works generated entirely by computers.
The report has been celebrated by the UK creative sectors, which have been campaigning tirelessly in favour of protected the copyrighted works of artists, writers, musicians and more.
Responding to the report, Paul Fleming, the general secretary of the UK performing arts union Equity said: “The government has taken a welcome and marked change of approach, which has included engaging with Equity at the highest level in detail, and in advance of this announcement.
“The pause announced today is recognition that selling out the UK’s creative industries to benefit US tech companies would’ve been an act of national self-sabotage. The UK should be the best place on the planet to create, supporting the government’s growth agenda through a strong copyright regime and respect for creative workers.”
Fleming has now called for a firm commitment to copyright and neighbouring rights and the introduction of collective licensing for AI uses that will see trade unions able to collectively bargain with AI developers.
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