- Only 3% of public respondents supported the UK government’s preferred copyright plan for AI training
- Over 88% want AI developers to get explicit permission before using copyrighted work
- Creators across the UK are pushing back hard against opt-out schemes they say undermine their rights
When the UK government launched a public consultation on artificial intelligence and copyright in early 2025, it probably did not expect to receive a near-unanimous vote. But of the roughly 10,000 responses submitted via its official “Citizen Space” platform, only 3% supported the government’s preferred policy of regulating how AI uses copyrighted material for training. As many as 88% supported a stricter approach focusing on rights holders.
The survey asked for views on four possible paths the UK could take to address what rules should apply when AI developers train their models on books, songs, art and other copyrighted works. Labeled Option 3, the government’s preferred route offered a compromise where AI developers had a default right to use copyrighted material as long as they disclosed what they were using, and offered a way for those with the rights to the material to opt out. But most respondents disagreed.
Option 3 received the least support. Even “do nothing” allows for just leaving the law vague and inconsistent to better research. More people would prefer no reform at all to accepting the government’s proposal. That level of disapproval is hard to turn.
It is a triumph for the campaign of writers’ unions, music industry groups, visual artists and game developers seeking precisely this result. They spent months warning of a future where creative work becomes free fuel for unlicensed AI engines.
The artists argued that the fight was about consent as much as royalties. They argued that having creative work swept up in a training data set without permission means the damage is done, even if you can opt out months later. And they pointed out that Britain’s copyright laws were not built for artificial intelligence. Copyright in the UK is automatic, not registered, which is great for flexibility, but difficult for any enforcement as there is no central database of copyright ownership.
AI protection
Officials made option 3 to try to appease all sides. The government’s stated goal was to stimulate AI innovation while respecting creators. A transparent opt-out mechanism would allow developers to build useful models while giving artists a way to opt out. But it ultimately felt to many creators as if all the burden fell on them, and they would have to constantly monitor how their work is being used, sometimes across borders, languages and platforms they’ve never heard of.
This is probably why 88% of respondents went for requiring licenses for everything as their preferred choice. If an artificial intelligence model were to be implemented that would train your book, your voice, your illustration or your photography, it would have to ask and potentially pay first.
A final report and an economic impact analysis from the government will be submitted in March. It will evaluate the legal, commercial and cultural implications of each option. Officials say they will consider input from creators, tech companies, small businesses and other stakeholders. It is clear that the government’s hopes of seamlessly starting to implement its preferred approach will not happen.
For now, the confusing status quo remains. Without a court decision or legislative solution, uncertainty reigns. AI developers do not know what is allowed. Creators do not know what is protected. Everyone is waiting for clarity that keeps getting delayed.
What happens next could shape Britain’s digital economy for years. If officials join the 3% who supported their original plan, they risk alienating the very creators whose work is so valuable. But stronger licensing rules would undoubtedly face opposition from AI startups and international tech firms. Regardless, the battles are far from over.
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