The British government launched a 10-week consultation period yesterday to legally clarify how copyright-protected materials including TV shows and films can be used to train AI models. 

After it closes on February 25, the UK’s Intellectual Property Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport will draft a package of proposals designed to give creators greater control over how their work is used and allow them to receive payments for its licensed use. At the same time, these proposals will also provide techcos with easier access to the high-quality content they need to train world-leading AI models. 

UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle says the legal uncertainties around AI training for commercial uses are holding back both the AI and creative sectors from reaching their full potential, and the government views both as critical for future economic growth. In order to build a bridge of trust between these industries, the UK is also calling for AI developers to be more transparent about what content they’re using to train new models and how it was acquired. 

This latest initiative comes after the Intellectual Property Office failed to broker a deal between creative industry stakeholders and AI companies on a voluntary AI copyright code of practice in 2023/2024. Letting the status quo continue risks limiting investment, innovation and the ability to unlock new opportunities in the rapidly developing AI industry, according to a release.