The UK government’s decision to abandon plans for a voluntary AI code of conduct has raised significant concerns across the creative and tech sectors.
- The initiative aimed to establish rules for AI model training using copyrighted material but failed due to lack of consensus among stakeholders.
- Experts highlighted the substantial financial and human resource requirements needed for transparency and questioned the feasibility for smaller firms.
- Content creators and rights holders fear that tech companies might exploit their work without proper compensation, citing ongoing lawsuits in the US as a cautionary example.
- The government remains committed to fostering innovation, with a forthcoming white paper expected to address AI regulation and support for the creative industries.
The UK government’s decision to halt the development of a voluntary AI code of conduct has elicited strong concerns within the creative and tech sectors. The initiative, led by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO), aimed to set guidelines for training AI models with copyrighted material. However, it stalled due to a lack of consensus among industry stakeholders.
Andana Streng, managing associate at Addleshaw Goddard’s intellectual property team, expressed doubts about the practicality of expecting AI companies to develop such a code. She pointed out the substantial financial investments and human oversight required to ensure transparency in both sourcing training data and generating AI outputs, which could jeopardise the viability of smaller firms.
Paul Joseph, an IP partner at Linklaters, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need to clarify the proposed code’s objectives to satisfy both creative and technological stakeholders. Similarly, Aaron Cole, senior associate at Ashurst’s IP team, highlighted the intricate balance necessary to maintain existing rights for creative industries while promoting innovation.
The discontinuation of the code has raised alarms among content creators and rights holders, who worry that technology companies could profit from their work without due compensation. This concern is underscored by instances of copyright infringement lawsuits in the US, such as the case involving OpenAI and Microsoft.
In response to these developments, the Lords Communications and Digital Committee recommended government support for copyright holders, a call echoed by Owen Meredith of the News Media Association, who urged legislative action to protect copyright law. Despite this setback, the government reaffirmed its commitment to advancing innovation within AI and creative sectors.
A forthcoming white paper is anticipated to outline detailed plans for AI regulation, striking a balance between encouraging technological advancement and safeguarding the interests of creative industries. As various stakeholders await these developments, there is a growing need for clarity on the future of copyright law and AI’s role in driving economic growth.
The abandonment of the voluntary AI code of conduct has highlighted significant issues, necessitating a balanced regulatory approach to support innovation while protecting creative rights.
