The UK government has published a progress report on its work around AI and copyright, alongside a summary of responses to its recent consultation on proposed changes to the law. The consultation, required under the Data Act, closed earlier this year and attracted more than 11,500 responses from across the creative, academic, legal, cultural and technology sectors.
Respondents were asked to consider several possible approaches to how copyright should apply to AI training. These ranged from making no changes to existing law, through to introducing new copyright exceptions for data mining. The government’s preferred option proposed allowing AI companies to mine copyrighted works by default, while giving rights holders the ability to opt out.
The results of the consultation were striking. A clear majority of respondents (88%) supported a system where licences are required in all cases when copyrighted material is used to train AI models. In contrast, just 3% supported the government’s opt-out-based data mining exception. A further 7% favoured leaving the law unchanged, while fewer than 1% supported a broad copyright exception with no opt-out at all.
Industry bodies have been quick to respond. The Publishers Association described the results as an unequivocal rejection of the opt-out approach and called on the government to abandon it. The Association has instead urged ministers to reinforce the UK’s existing licensing framework, backed by stronger transparency requirements, and said it would continue engaging with government ahead of a full response to the consultation expected in the coming months.
Artists’ groups have echoed this position strongly. Artists’ Union England welcomed the publication of the results, saying they confirm what many creators have been arguing for months: that artists do not support a system which allows their work to be used by AI companies without consent, credit, or payment. The union emphasised that the vast majority of respondents want to retain control over how their work is used.
This view is shared by DACS, which described the consultation outcome as a clear signal that creators want meaningful control and fair compensation in the age of AI. DACS has pointed to its own research showing that 95% of artists want control, credit, and payment when their work is used to train AI models. It argues that transparent, licensing-based approaches offer a constructive path forward, allowing creators to be fairly remunerated while enabling AI developers to innovate responsibly.
Across the creative industries, the message from the consultation is consistent. Creators, rights holders and representative organisations overwhelmingly support a licensing-based approach to AI training, one that respects copyright, ensures transparency, and recognises the value of creative work. As the government prepares its full response, many will be watching closely to see whether policy ultimately reflects the strength of feeling expressed in this consultation.
Read statement from DACS here.
Read Artists' Union England statement here.