As the UK government prepares to launch a public consultation on the future of AI and its intersection with copyright and the creative industries, the European Publishers Council is joining with over 40 leading organisations representing publishers, film studios, authors, artists, music businesses, specialist interest publications, unions, and photographers who have come together under the Creative Rights in AI Coalition launching today to urge the government to uphold copyright protections and establish a fair licensing market for generative AI.
There’s a vital opportunity—and a responsibility —for the UK Government to take the right steps. The UK’s creative industries—worth over £100 billion annually—are major contributors to the UK economy and culture. The key to that success, and future growth, is copyright law.
The ongoing implementation of the EU AI Act serves as a timely reminder of why a clear legal framework in full compliance with copyright law is necessary. The UK has a chance to lead and tailor policies to build a future where technology and creativity thrive together—not at the expense of one another.
Recent public polling from Reset Tech and YouGov found that the public overwhelmingly back transparency in the training of AI models and the payment of royalties to content creators by tech firms.
Generative AI relies heavily on the work of creators, yet much of this content is already being used without permission, proper payment or attribution. Without legal safeguards, there is a risk of devaluing the very work that fuels cultural and economic success.
The European Publishers Council said: "Publishers and other IP owners are facing the worst of all worlds: their creations are taken for free to power technologies that substitute the original editorial content. A thriving licensing market is possible—but only if AI firms are legally required to be transparent and give creators proper control."
The Coalition wants the UK government to act decisively to ensure the creative sector remains vibrant, respected, and sustainable in the face of technological advances and has published three key principles for copyright and GAI policy and a statement supported by all member organisations. The coalition is calling on government to adopt the principles as a framework for developing AI policy.
In a statement the Coalition said: “Ours is a positive vision, a vision of collaboration between the creative industries and generative AI developers, where we can all flourish in the online marketplace. We call on the government and the tech sector to join us in building a future that values, protects, and promotes human creativity.”
“Protecting copyright and building a dynamic licensing market for the use of creative content in building generative AI (GAI) isn’t just a question of fairness: it’s the only way that both sectors will flourish and grow. The UK creative industries generate well over £100 billion annually. We have, quite literally, earned the right to have our voice heard. The key to that success, and future growth, is copyright law.”
The coalition’s three principles for AI policy focus on a dynamic licensing market with robust protections for copyright, control and transparency for content creators, and driving growth and innovation in the creative and tech sectors.
Follow the work of the coalition and all its activities here: https://www.creativerightsinai.co.uk/
Organisations in membership of the Creative Rights in AI Coalition are:
o Independent Society of Musicians
o DMG Media
o Association of Photographers
o Association of Online Publishers
o Professional Publishers Association
o NLA Media Access Limited
o Publishers' Licensing Services
o Association Illustrators
o PRS for Music
o News Media Association
o Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers
o International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers
o Publishers Association
o Copyright Licensing Agency
o The Associated Press
o The Society of Artists Agents
o European Publishers Council
o Society of Editors
o Independent Publishers Alliance
o British Copyright Council
o Society of Authors
o News Media Europe
o Pan Macmillan
o Association of Authors' Agents
o Financial Times
o Creators’ Rights Alliance
o Guardian News & Media
o Authors' Licencing and Collecting Society
o Mumsnet
o Artists’ Collecting Society
o Music Publishers Association
o Picture Industry Collecting Society for Effective Licensing
o Getty Images
o British Phonographic Industry
o Association of Independent Music
o CILIP - the library and information association
o PPL (Phonographic Performance Ltd)
o UK Music
o Independent Publishers Guild
o Motion Picture Association
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,149 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 7 - 8 November 2024. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).