In a report published last week, the Tony Blair Institute urged the UK to relax copyright laws in order to let AI firms create new products, as it warned a stricter approach could damage ties with the United States.

The report, which comes as the UK government plans a fresh round of AI copyright talks, stressed the importance of the UK and US adopting similar provisions to reduce the risk of straining the transatlantic relationship.

The UK Government is currently reviewing over 11,000 responses to a consultation on Copyright and AI reforms, which closed on 25 February. It is expected to publish its response later this year, followed by legislation in the next session of parliament.

However, as the UK Government nears its decision, it is coming under increasing pressure from both sides of the debate.

Whilst the Tony Blair Institute may support the government’s proposal for a text and data mining exception with an opt-out mechanism, many in the creative industries, including the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, warn that such changes could rip off artists and result in a loss of creativity.

As discussed in one of our previous blogs, UK copyright law is certainly struggling to cope with the rapid development of AI. This is resulting in increasing difficulties for UK businesses to navigate the law and implement AI into their organisation effectively – a helpful guide for UK businesses looking to achieve this can be found here.

It is therefore vital that the UK Government provides clarity through legislation, but importantly when doing so, strikes a balance between the interests of big tech and creators.

Our London based intellectual property litigation specialists have the expertise to deal with the legal issues that surround AI and copyright.

If you have concerns about AI copyright infringement that are affecting your business, or would like advice on how to utilise AI in a copyright compliant manner, please contact Waterfront here and a member of our IP & Disputes team will be in touch.