Finance
Britain seeks 'reset' in copyright battle between AI and creators
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 13, 2026
UK Government Aims for Copyright Overhaul Amid AI Challenges
Government's Strategy for Copyright Reform
LONDON, Jan 13 (Reuters) - British technology minister Liz Kendall said on Tuesday the government was seeking a "reset" on plans to overhaul copyright rules to accommodate artificial intelligence, pledging to protect creators while unlocking AI's economic potential.
Concerns of the Creative Sector
Creative industries worldwide are grappling with legal and ethical challenges posed by AI systems that generate original content after being trained on popular works, often without compensating the original creators.
Mistakes in Initial Proposals
Britain, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer wants to turn into an AI superpower, initially proposed relaxing copyright laws to allow developers to train models on any material they could lawfully access, with creators required to opt out.
Future Directions for Copyright Laws
Ministers said this approach had been a mistake.
Kendall told a committee of lawmakers that the publication of the government's review - due in March - would be a "genuine reset moment". She said the creative industry's two main concerns - reward for their work and control of their art - were incredibly important.
"One of the things that was crystal clear in the consultation was just how important fundamentally it is for the creative sector to have those two issues at the heart of the way forward," she said.
Culture minister Lisa Nandy, who appeared alongside Kendall in front of the committee, echoed that view, saying there was no single answer from contributors to the review, but the initially preferred opt-out system was widely rejected.
"One of the learning points for this government has been that it was a mistake to start with a preferred model, the opt-out model," Nandy said.
"We have to take a far more nuanced approach to this and work with different parts of the creative industries to address the very serious and in some cases existential challenge that is posed by the current system, let alone by any changes that we may make," she added.
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Paul Sandle; editing by William James)
Frequently Asked Questions about Britain seeks 'reset' in copyright battle between AI and creators
1What is copyright?
Copyright is a legal right that grants the creator of original works exclusive rights to their use and distribution, typically for a limited time, with the intention of enabling creators to receive compensation for their intellectual investment.
2What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans, enabling them to perform tasks such as problem-solving, decision-making, and content generation.
3What are creative industries?
Creative industries encompass sectors that involve the creation and distribution of creative content, including art, design, music, film, and literature, often relying on intellectual property rights for protection and revenue.
