The UK’s creative sector is facing a potential crisis due to proposals to alter AI copyright laws, according to a House of Lords committee report. Britain’s renowned creative scenes in music, film, and arts are at risk, with fears that American tech giants could benefit disproportionately from such revisions, while local creators could suffer. The committee emphasized that retaining the ‘gold standard’ of copyright protection is vital, given that creative industries contributed substantially to the economy, amounting to £124 billion and 2.4 million jobs in 2023. Comparatively, the AI field’s contributions were significantly less, both in economic and employment terms.

Baroness Barbara Keeley, the committee’s chair, pointed out the growing threat to creators whose works, like photographs and music, are used without credit or compensation in training AI models. While the government considers the introduction of a new exception for commercial use of text and data mining, the committee argues that such measures could undermine the UK’s creative sector.

This sentiment is echoed within the industry, with leading figures supporting legislative changes to safeguard their works from unauthorized AI exploitation. The committee urges the government to clarify its stance and bolster protections, deterring any moves that might compromise the longstanding gains of the creative industries for fleeting AI advancements.