On 18 March 2026, the UK Government published its policy paper, “Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence.” The report reflects a growing recognition that technological developments are creating “new types of media, and new ways to copy and communicate creative works”—with generative AI at the centre of this shift.
Between 17 December 2024 and 25 February 2025, the Government consulted on how copyright law should respond to AI. Four policy options were proposed:
Initially, the Government expressed a preference for option 4, a flexible exception paired with safeguards. However, consultation responses told a different story. Most respondents rejected this approach, instead favouring stronger copyright protections (option 2).
For now, no.
The Government has stepped back from immediate reform and instead plans to gather further evidence on how copyright law impacts AI development in the UK. In practical terms, this means the current legal framework remains unchanged (for the time being).
In the absence of legislative change, attention is turning to the courts. The upcoming Court of Appeal decision in Getty Images v Stability AI is likely to provide the first meaningful judicial guidance on how existing copyright principles apply to AI training and outputs.
The UK is one of the few jurisdictions that explicitly provides copyright protection for certain types of computer-generated works. However, this position is now under scrutiny. The Government has signalled that this protection could be removed unless clear evidence demonstrates its continued value.
While no immediate reforms are being introduced, this is not the end of the conversation. The UK Government has made clear that it is in an evidence-gathering phase, closely monitoring both technological developments and stakeholder concerns.
For businesses operating in AI, creative industries, or data-driven sectors, the message is clear:
If you wish to discuss the topics covered in this article, reach out to Francesca Allport.
Intellectual Property