There are many photographers and artists on the Isle of Wight who may want to take note of this UK government consultation on ‘Copyright and Artificial Intelligence’ (AI), which is set to close on 25th February.
The consultation explores a proposed new exception to copyright law that would allow AI companies to train on copyrighted content for free—unless rights holders explicitly opt out.
Concerns over copyright protections
The proposal has sparked concern among creators and rights holders, of which there are many on the Island.
Although some organisations, including Getty Images and iStock, already take steps to protect their content, the suggested system is seen as impractical.
It does not address content that has already been scraped or distributed to third-party platforms, where copyright reservations can be lost.
This places the responsibility and costs on creators rather than the AI companies using their work.
Legal clarity and copyright law
The government claims that there is a lack of legal clarity surrounding the use of copyrighted works for AI training.
However, UK copyright law is clear: using copyrighted content for commercial AI training without a licence is illegal.
While there is support for encouraging licensing agreements for AI training, rights holders believe that copyright law should be upheld rather than weakened.
How you can take action
The consultation period is open until 25th February, and there is an opportunity for creators to make their voices heard.
The Creative Rights in AI Coalition has launched a letter-writing campaign, allowing individuals to contact their MPs quickly and easily.
A pre-written letter can be sent in just two clicks, and those who have more time can personalise their message to highlight the impact of these changes on their livelihoods.
Protecting creative rights
Creators are encouraged to participate in the campaign and share the information with their peers.
With the consultation deadline approaching, there is a limited window to influence the decision-making process.
For those who rely on copyright protections, this could be a crucial moment to safeguard their rights.
Useful Links
The UK Government: Summary of the consultation giving a brief outline of the proposed changes. The full consultation documents are on the Gov website.
Creative Rights in AI Coalition: Campaigning organisation, of which Getty Images is a member.
The Guardian: ‘UK arts and media reject plan to let AI firms use copyrighted material’
For further campaigning information and templates, please look at Jacob Croft’s Comprehensive guide.
Thanks to FrattonParker for the heads up
