UK Urged to Revise Copyright Laws to Favor AI Innovation
Tony Blair’s thinktank has urged the UK to relax copyright laws in order to let artificial intelligence (AI) firms build new products, as it warned that a tougher approach could strain the transatlantic relationship.
The Tony Blair Institute highlighted that enforcing strict copyright measures would risk tensions with the United States, which is poised to announce tariffs on UK goods.
In their report, TBI stated: ‘Without similar provisions in the United States, it would be hard for the UK government to enforce strict copyright laws without straining the transatlantic relationship it has so far sought to nurture.’
The Impact on AI Development
The thinktank emphasized that insisting on licensing for UK content used in AI models could shift development efforts to countries with more lenient copyright laws. Furthermore, to enforce a strict licensing model, the UK would need to limit access to models trained on such content, potentially affecting US-owned AI systems.
In their report, TBI backed government proposals allowing AI firms to train their models on copyright-protected material without prior permission unless creatives opt-out. With the Trump administration signaling a less regulated environment for AI and China advancing rapidly in AI technologies, the report insisted that the UK should not fall behind in this critical sector.
‘If the UK imposes laws that are too strict, it risks falling behind in the AI-driven economy and weakening its capacity to protect national security interests,’ TBI noted.
The Call for Change
Rather than clinging to outdated regulations, TBI urged rights holders and policymakers to help create a future where creativity is valued alongside AI innovation. A more restrictive copyright approach than those taken by regions like the EU or Japan could compel AI developers to relocate, warned TBI.
Fernando Garibay, a record producer, stated that history has shown fears surrounding technological advancements are often unfounded, advocating for modernized copyright laws that evolve with technological changes.
The report also proposed establishing a Centre for AI and Creative Industries to foster collaboration between tech and creative sectors.
Beeban Kidron, a campaigner against the government proposals, criticized the report’s message to artists, claiming it diminishes the creative industry’s value. She further criticized perceived conflicts of interest related to TBI’s substantial donations from US tech billionaire Larry Ellison, asserting the need for maintaining intellectual independence.
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