Government Urged to Update Copyright Law Amidst AI Development Concerns

Baroness Stowell of Beeston, chair of the Communications and Digital Committee in the House of Lords, has issued a call to action for the government to update copyright laws in response to the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in content creation. In a letter to Michelle Donelan, the secretary of state for science, innovation, and technology, Baroness Stowell expressed concerns about the government’s “inadequate and deteriorating” record on copyright and the potential for “problematic business models” to become normalized.

The issue at hand revolves around AI developers seeking access to high-quality datasets for training their systems, which has raised concerns among content creators in the creative industries about the use of their intellectual property rights, particularly copyright. Some creators, such as Getty Images, have taken legal action against AI developers, while others have intensified their lobbying efforts to push for legislative changes.

The government’s response to a report by the Communications and Digital Committee on large language models (LLMs) and gen-AI prompted Baroness Stowell to call for clarity on whether copyright law adequately protects rightsholders in light of advancements in AI technology. The committee urged the government to take proactive steps in addressing uncertainties surrounding AI development and copyright law, rather than waiting for court rulings to provide clarity.

Despite the government’s decision to abandon plans for an industry-led AI copyright code of practice, it has committed to engaging with both AI developers and content creators to find a balanced approach that supports innovation while respecting copyright protections. However, Baroness Stowell criticized the government for failing to commit to updating legislation to address copyright issues related to AI, emphasizing the need for legal clarity in this evolving landscape.

In response to these developments, MPs on the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee have called on the government to set a definitive deadline for resolving industry discussions on AI and copyright. They have urged the government to consider legislative action if a voluntary agreement cannot be reached to protect the rights of both AI developers and copyright holders.

As the debate on AI and copyright continues to unfold, stakeholders are emphasizing the importance of updating laws to ensure fair and transparent practices in the use of AI technology. The government faces mounting pressure to take decisive action to support innovation while upholding the rights of content creators in the digital age.