TL;DR

UK ministers will postpone planned changes to copyright rules that would have made it easier for AI companies to mine media content, according to the Financial Times. The government’s consultation responses did not favour any of its proposed models, and any new legislation is now expected to be pushed into next year.

What Happened

The government had been consulting on changes to how AI companies can access copyrighted material for training. That two-month consultation has now closed, with the response due in the next fortnight. But according to people briefed on the plans, ministers have decided they need to go back to the drawing board.

A person with knowledge of the government’s planned response said copyright is “going to be kicked down the road.” The government will gather more evidence and spend longer consulting on options before making any changes.

People close to the process said there is no expectation that an AI bill will appear in the King’s Speech, due in May. Any decisions and new legislation would instead be pushed into next year.

Why the Delay

The consultation results appear to have given ministers pause. Responses did not support any of the government’s proposed models for AI use of copyrighted materials. The creative industries have been vocal in their opposition, with broad pushback against proposals that would allow AI companies to use copyrighted work without explicit permission.

Officials have reportedly listened to the protests from the UK’s creative sector over the risk of having their work “copied and ripped off” by AI models.

Looking Forward

The delay is a win for creative industry groups that had been lobbying against the proposed changes. But it also means continued uncertainty for both AI companies and content creators about the rules they will eventually need to follow. With legislation now unlikely before next year, the UK falls further behind the EU and other jurisdictions in establishing a clear legal framework for AI and copyright.