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Sir Paul McCartney, Richard Curtis and Dua Lipa are among the 400 best musicians, artists and media leaders who wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer who seeks support to protect copyright against artificial intelligence tools.
The letter calls for Starmer next week an amendment to a bill presented by the Baroness Beeban Kidron, a transfrontal peer, which would give transparency and protection as to whether the work of artists is used to train AI models.
Kidron's amendment would do technology giants Tell copyright owners who work individual – music and books to films and newspapers – they used to train their AI Models. This would allow companies and artists to “keep AI companies responsible for the mass flight of creative works that continues to take place,” said the letter.
The letter also supports Coldplay, Sir Elton John, Russell T Davies, Antony Gormley and the senior executives of new groups such as The Telegraph and The Times. The Financial Times also signed the letter.
The amendment of the data bill (use and access) was defeated this week in the House of Commons, but will be elected Monday at the Chamber of Lords.
The government has made its own modifications which would guarantee an evaluation of the economic impact of different options, while the ministers withdraw from a previously “preferred” position which would have indicated that the creative industries should withdraw from their work scratched by AI.
Managers insist that all the options are on the table after the end of a consultation in various proposals earlier this year.
However, leaders are still concerned that technological groups will ultimately be authorized to overcome the rules of copyright, unless the government provides legislative support guaranteeing transparency and protection.
The letter warns that if the artists are forced to give their work, the United Kingdom “will lose an immense opportunity of growth … and with it our future income, the position of the United Kingdom as a creative power, and all hope that the technology of daily life will embody the values and the laws of the United Kingdom”.
The use of the data bill is the last attempt at the creative industries to protect their copyright against AI groups without allocation or payment.
Kidron said that British creative industries “should not be sacrificed to the interests of a handful of American technological companies.”
She added: “The United Kingdom is in a unique position to take its place a global player in the AI international supply chain, but to seize this opportunity requires the transparency planned in my amendments, which are essential to create a dynamic license market.”
Lord Kevin Brennan de Canton, a former deputy and a counterpart, said: “We cannot leave the flight of mass copyright inflicts damage to our economy for the years to come.”
The government did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
