Actors, musicians and writers welcome UK U-turn on AI copyright

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Dan Milmo Global technology editorMarch 18, 2026 at 07:32 PM
Actors, musicians and writers welcome UK U-turn on AI copyright

AI Summary

medium article 3 min

The UK government has reversed its stance on allowing AI firms to use copyright-protected work without explicit permission, following backlash from actors, musicians, and writers. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced the government no longer has a "preferred option" after extensive engagement with stakeholders. The initial proposal, which would have allowed tech companies to use copyrighted material unless rights holders opted out, drew criticism from prominent artists and creative industry organizations. These groups argued that the proposal would harm the UK's creative sector. While welcoming the change, some industry figures cautioned that the issue is not fully resolved, as other options remain under consideration. The government published an update on its proposals, including an economic impact assessment, alongside the announcement.

Keywords

ai copyright 100% copyright-protected work 80% ai firms 70% intellectual property 60% creative industries 60% opt-out 50% uk government 50% economic impact assessment 40%

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The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
United Kingdom

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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