UK Government Drops Plan to Let AI Train on Copyrighted Content Without Permission

What happened

The UK government has done a U-turn on one of the most controversial AI policy proposals of recent years. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed on 18 March that ministers are dropping their preferred approach to AI and copyright, which would have allowed AI companies to use copyrighted works to train their models without needing a licence or permission.

The original plan had triggered fierce opposition from across the creative industries. Artists, musicians, publishers, and writers pushed back hard, and the government's own consultation found the proposal was "overwhelmingly rejected" by the sector. Sir Elton John was among the high-profile names who spoke out against it.

The government published its Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence alongside a separate impact assessment, acknowledging both the UK's "world-leading" creative sector and an AI industry growing "23 times faster than the rest of the economy." Ministers said there was "no consensus" on how to balance both and will not reform copyright law "until we are confident that they will meet our objectives."

What this means for your business

If you run a creative business, produce written content, photography, music, or video, this is a win. For now, the existing law stands: AI companies cannot legally use your work to train their models without your permission.

If you use AI tools in your business, nothing changes day to day. But this decision signals the UK is taking a more cautious path on AI regulation, which may affect the pace of AI development here compared to the US. Watch this space closely as licensing frameworks will be the next battleground.