Deputy Leader Rachel Millward welcomes government retreat over AI copyright reforms
The government has rowed back on its plans to introduce an ‘opt-out’ to copyright law that would have harmed the UK’s world leading creative industries and weakened our country’s long-term digital sovereignty.
Rachel Millward said:
“The future of AI depends on trusted, licensed data. We need both a fair future for British creatives and to protect our unique contribution to the global AI supply chain.
“Our creative industries produce some of the most valuable cultural work in the world. The sector contributed £146 billion to the economy in 2024 and supported 2.4 million jobs.
“Strong copyright protections ensure that creators are remunerated for their work and their data is used fairly and transparently. If the UK gives up control of its data, it gives up its strategic advantage in the global AI landscape.
“By continually kicking the can down the road, the government is effectively handing power to a small number of US Big Tech firms, whilst undermining both our creative economy and our long-term digital sovereignty.”
“The Green Party calls on the government to rule out any future weakening of copyright law and urgently introduce transparency requirements on AI developers. This will drive growth in the licensing market, which is being held back by the government’s indecision. There is no time to waste.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
In December 2024, the government announced a public consultation on AI and copyright. It updated Parliament on its progress on Wednesday 18 March.
The government’s original preferred option, which would have allowed AI developers to use copyrighted works unless rightsholders opted out, was widely criticised by the creative industries, and received only 3% support in the government’s consultation. Ministers have since admitted there is no workable opt-out policy proposal on the table.
Weakening copyright would have eroded the UK’s leverage in the global AI supply chain and deepened our dependence on a small number of US-based Big Tech firms.