Don't let Big Tech steal UK's creative genius: Music, TV, film and publishing bosses back major Mail campaign to stop Labour letting US AI giants plunder their work for free
Senior figures from the worlds of music, media and film last night backed a major new Daily Mail campaign to protect Britain's creative industries from the threat of AI.They issued a stark warning over the potentially devastating impact of the Labour Government's plans to allow Big Tech firms to ignore copyright rules when training their artificial intelligence systems. Ministers are proposing to change existing laws so that the tech giants can use any online material, such as text, images or music, to improve their AI models – without respecting copyright laws that ensure its creators get paid.Instead, creators would have to opt out of having their work exploited in this way. This system has been likened to allowing burglars to take what they want from a home – unless the owner puts a note on the door asking them not to.Leading figures from Britain's world-renowned £126billion creative industries last night warned that the plans risked having a ruinous effect on a sector that employs 2.4million people.They backed a major Mail campaign that is calling on Keir Starmer's Government to urgently rethink the proposed changes and protect the musical, publishing and artistic genius for which this country is famous.The campaign's backers include some of the most senior executives in the music, media and film industries, as well as stars, authors, leading politicians and campaigners.They warned that the Government's plans would be 'catastrophic', with valuable creative work and intellectual property effectively stolen and wealth transferred back to Silicon Valley tech barons. Sir Lucian Grainge, CBE, the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, gave his backing to the Mail's campaign Warner Music Group's CEO Robert Kyncl said the Government's proposals would 'undermine' the creative industries The plans could also threaten Britain's free Press, with content taken from newspaper websites without recompense. The launch of the campaign comes just as a pivotal public consultation on the controversial proposals is set to conclude next week.Tom Kiehl, chief executive of UK Music, the collective voice of Britain's music industry, said: 'These proposals would be catastrophic for our world-leading creative industries. The opt-out system being put forward prioritises AI firms over human creativity, enabling Big Tech firms to effectively steal the work of music creators without their consent and without paying them. 'This would deliver a devastating blow to the entire industry which contributes £7.6billion to our economy and supports 216,000 jobs in the UK.'Sir Lucian Grainge, CBE, the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, told the Mail: 'The UK stands at a decisive crossroads because what is 'Made in Britain' and exported to the world is not limited to physical products, but also intellectual property and copyright including music, visual art, life sciences and more.'This is the source of the UK's tremendous soft power that resonates on a global scale.'Warner Music Group's CEO Robert Kyncl said: 'The Government's proposed exception to copyright for training AI systems would undermine the ability of artists and songwriters, copyright holders that invest in them and the creative community at large, to monetize and control their creative works and earn a living from their creativity. This will be very detrimental to the world-leading creative community that has long been the pride of the UK'.Rob Stringer CBE, chairman of Sony Music Group, also backed the Mail campaign. He said: 'AI is going to change the world… however, there can be no question that creators must be rewarded for being part of this technological revolution. Safeguarding the existing UK copyright model ensures AI developers and content owners can innovate whilst also recognising the value of the works on which their products are based.' The Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: 'Yet again, this Government is making everything worse. Almost the entire creative industries sector say their proposals are not fit for purpose. Labour must rethink their approach. The Conservatives will defend intellectual property rights and develop proper plans to harness the immense opportunities of AI.'So-called generative AI programs 'mine', or effectively learn, by collecting and analysing vast amounts of online material such as text, images, or music. Under the Government's plans to change copyright laws, AI companies would be given a 'text or data mining' exemption so that they could do this without having to pay creators.Ministers say that creative organisations, would be allowed to register a 'rights reservation' – effectively an opt-out. But critics say their content should be protected automatically. They also point out that the Government has so far failed to carry out any economic impact assessment of its proposals, something that could highlight the damage they might do. Novelist Jeanette Winterson said: 'No one should have to opt out of being robbed. Big Tech needs to pay for what it needs, not pay lawyers and lobbyists to persuade timid governments like Starmer's to give away what belongs to others.'And Richard Osman, the TV presenter and author, added: 'Using our work without our permission is theft. Copyright law is very clear on this.' Novelist Jeanette Winterson said: 'No one should have to opt out of being robbed' Richard Osman, the TV presenter and author, added: 'Using our work without our permission is theft'Viscount Rothermere, Chairman of Daily Mail and General Trust, said last night: 'The genius of our music, writing, film and TV is one of Britain's greatest assets, delivering £126billion to the economy.'Why does Keir Starmer's Government want to let AI developers have this wealth for nothing, making some of the world's richest companies, virtually all of them American, even richer?'The Government hasn't even done an economic assessment of its plan; who is telling it this is the best way to kick-start growth in the UK? True, artists could reserve their rights, but why should they carry all the burden of defending their work against exploitation by AI?'Read More Labour is planning to help US Big Tech robber barons pull off the theft of the century: ANDREW NEIL Ted Verity, Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Mail, added: 'No one champions innovation and growth more than the Mail. But by opening up this massive copyright loophole for Big Tech billionaires Starmer is chasing fool's gold. Not only will it severely damage great British companies and creativity, the vast majority of the profits will end up, as ever, back in California.'Last month, a coalition of nearly 60 organisations from music, art, publishing and media announced they were backing a Parliamentary bid by the crossbench peer Baroness Kidron – via amendments to the existing Data Bill – to strengthen copyright laws against the specific threat of AI.Representatives for the cultural sector have tried for months to meet technology minister Peter Kyle to relay their fears, but insiders say they have found it almost impossible to secure a meeting.The Mail's campaign calls on the Labour Government to drop its preference to give AI firms a copyright exemption – and for ministers to back amendments to its Data Bill to enhance copyright protection.A Government spokesman insisted the creative industries would be consulted.He said: 'The UK's creative sector is truly world class which is why we’ve launched a consultation to ensure the UK copyright framework offers strong protections with regards to AI. 'That’s because the current regime is holding back both sectors from realising their full potential — and that cannot continue. We are consulting on a new approach that will ensure creators have real control and transparency over their works, with appropriate access to data for AI innovators.'No move will be made until we are absolutely confident we have a practical plan that delivers on our objectives – and as they have done throughout, the Technology Secretary and Culture Secretary, along with ministers from both departments, will continue to meet a wide range of representatives from both the AI sector and creative industries.'What are Labour's plans on AI and copyright?The Government opened a public consultation on the issue last December, claiming its aim was to lure AI developers to the UK while safeguarding Britain's creative industries.Ministers said their preferred course was one under which AI firms would be given an exemption from copyright so they could collect – or 'scrape' – online material to train their AI models.This would be known as a 'text and data mining' exception, and the firms would use it to make their models even more advanced and human-like. Some of the country's biggest stars, including Sir Paul McCartney, have already spoken out against the plans Sir Elton John has also expressed his concerns, as many creatives fear original artistic works will be exploited to help AI produce artificial imitationsUnder the plans, creative firms would have to specifically 'opt out' (or 'reserve their rights') from having their work exploited.The consultation closes on Tuesday next week, with the Government aiming to publish its final plans within 12 weeks.Why is Britain's creative world so alarmed?The great strength of the centuries-old British copyright law is that it gives an automatic protection for creators – works do not have to be registered.Read More I've had my life's work stolen - by some of the richest people on the planet Any creator, whether they are generating music, images, film, written works or journalism, gets that protection, so if their work is appropriated, they have a claim to fair compensation.These protections have helped Britain's cultural industry, including music, the arts, media, film and publishing, to become the envy of the world.Critics say the Government's proposal threatens to upend this. It would allow the tech giants, most of which are based abroad (typically in Silicon Valley), to 'scrape' whatever material they want unless its creators take specific steps to stop them.Many believe it is simply not fair for creators, including thousands of musicians and authors, to be forced to employ lawyers and tech experts to notify AI developers, which include some of the biggest businesses in the world, that they want to opt out.Why does Labour favour this plan?Ministers say our copyright law is currently 'unclear' regarding AI – and that this is deterring tech bosses from innovating in Britain because they may be sued further down the line for 'stealing' work.They claim the best way to support AI firms and safeguard artists is to require increased transparency from developers on what content they use to train models, while also introducing the 'text and data mining' exception.Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves are pushing desperately for economic growth – and think getting the AI giants to invest here can help.Critics of the plans profoundly disagree. They argue Britain's creative industry is worth £126billion and supports 2.4 million jobs – and should be protected. They also warn that any economic benefits would inevitably be funnelled abroad.Are there other flaws in the plans?Incredibly, there has been no economic assessment either in the consultation or in the Government's AI Opportunities Action Plan of this 'preferred' proposal. Ministers hope it will lure AI firms to the UK, where they will invest their vast wealth in the country establishing data processing centres.But the act of data 'mining' is exceptionally energy intensive and Britain's electricity is among the most expensive in the world. Why would they put down roots here when they could mine information at a fraction of the price in California?Who will be affected if the proposals go ahead?Tens of thousands of creative figures in the worlds of music, film, art, publishing and media – and the millions of people in jobs linked to their work.Some of the country's biggest stars, such as Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John, have already spoken out against the plans, fearing original artistic works will be exploited to help AI produce artificial imitations.Britain's free Press could also be affected, with online journalistic work plundered by the Big Tech data scrapers.What do artists and creatives say?They argue that copyright laws in Britain are not unclear in the slightest. In fact, they are very clear – if you use an artist's work you must pay for it. Anything short of that is effectively 'theft'. They suggest that for the past few years AI firms have conducted 'theft' on an industrial scale.Read More DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Labour's plans are like telling burglars they can walk into houses Now, instead of the Government enforcing copyright law and prosecuting these firms, they are changing the law to legalise it.Among the many losers will be young, aspiring artists who have no big backing or resources to protect themselves.It will erode our world-renowned cultural scene as AI replaces original creators.Artists and creatives point to the fact there is no market need for this. There is not a lack of musicians, actors or authors creating beautiful works.They insist that they are keen to embrace the potential of AI, but only in a fair manner.Which proposal does Britain's creative sector support?Creatives are calling on the Government to strengthen, rather than weaken, existing copyright laws to guard against the threat of AI.They want licensing in all cases. This would mean the Big Tech AI models could only be trained using copyrighted works in the UK with an express licence to do so. This in turn means they would have to strike deals to allow creators to share in any financial profits.
