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An influential US cross-media industry association has warned of the chilling impact on investment and activity within the UK if the federal government weakens copyright rules to permit artificial intelligence firms to scrape their content.
In a three-page letter sent to British ministers this week, the Copyright Alliance, which represents a number of the largest US media firms similar to Disney, Fox, Paramount, Universal Music and Getty, expressed its “strong opposition to the adoption of AI.” Phrase “exceptions” to copyright provisions.
The move comes just days before the federal government is anticipated to launch a consultation on AI and the creative industries.
Industry executives fear the federal government will seek the advice of on a plan that may allow AI firms to freely use the web to coach algorithms on content from publishers and artists unless they “opt out.”
The intervention of major US media groups, including Hollywood film studios and music groups investing billions of kilos within the UK, will increase pressure on ministers to not water down copyright laws to encourage the event of AI models.
The letter, seen by the Financial Times, was sent to Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
“Any motion by the UK government that affects copyright law – for instance by creating an exemption for the usage of AI – creates a legal environment that daunts UK and US creators and rights holders from engaging in creative endeavors within the UK and to speculate in them,” it said.
Government officials said the consultation had morphed in recent weeks right into a more open debate on the problem, hoping to temper the sector's indignant backlash.
Speaking to a select committee of MPs this week, Nandy said it was a “real consultation” and “no decision had been made”. . . We’re trying to seek out the precise balance.”
The Copyright Alliance's letter says that the UK's approach to AI and copyright issues “is of great importance to US creators and copyright holders, because the UK's actions have a direct impact on the vitality and way forward for the mutually supportive.” creative sectors of each countries can have”.
It added: “Copyright. . . forms the backbone of diverse collaborations between the US and UK,” citing , , , and .
The group called on the UK government to reject attempts to create AI-related exemptions that undermine copyright protections.
The letter, signed by CEO Keith Kupferschmid, said it “strongly opposes so-called opt-out provisions that undermine the basic nature of copyright law and can be unworkable in practice.”
It added: “Copyright laws mustn’t be overridden in favor of recent policies that require creators to effectively subsidize AI technologies within the mistaken belief that that is vital to incentivize AI technologies.”
The group called on the British government to “proceed its long-standing leadership role and stand alongside the United States as a champion of the creative community and the copyright laws on which it depends.”
The government declined to comment.
