The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Intellectual Property Office published a report on 18/3. This report followed extensive consultations with content creators, AI companies, and academics, the majority of whom opposed the proposal. News of the plan's rejection was met with delight by many organizations and industry figures, including experts in literature, music, film, theater, and television.

The actors' union Equity hailed the decision as a significant industry shift. The Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) also welcomed the move, emphasizing authors' need for control over their works and fair compensation. ALCS further called for greater transparency from AI companies. Daniel Guthrie, Director of the Intellectual Property Alliance, echoed these sentiments, stating that relaxing copyright protections is not the appropriate method to balance the interests of the creative content industry and AI.

The UK had previously intended to implement an opt-out policy. This would have permitted AI to utilize works from artists and publishers unless individuals explicitly "opted out". According to The Bookseller, this meant artificial intelligence companies could gather online content for AI training without prior permission.

AI is becoming deeply involved in the creative sector. *Illustration: ChatGPT*.

The creative industry reacted strongly to this proposal. A preliminary government survey in 12/2025 revealed that only 3% of 11,520 participants supported the plan. Prominent figures like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Coldplay, director Richard Curtis, and various publishing associations also voiced criticism.

Faced with widespread opposition, the government decided to reverse its position. Science Minister Liz Kendall confirmed that reforms would not proceed until they were certain to align with both economic interests and public benefit.

Kendall further stated that in the next phase, the government would consult stakeholders on alternative approaches. These include: developing standards for input data, gathering evidence on the impact of copyright law on AI, and monitoring AI copyright litigation in the UK and globally. The report also emphasized the symbiotic relationship between the two sectors: the creative industry provides high-quality content for AI training, while artificial intelligence enhances productivity for the country's 146 billion GBP industry.

By Chau Anh (based on reports from The Bookseller, Screen Daily)