Keir Starmer's AI Copyright Exception Plans Face Legal Backlash

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the UK, is under criticism after a leading copyright lawyer expressed concerns that his proposed exceptions to copyright law for AI firms may violate international agreements. This situation has prompted significant backlash, especially from the creative industries.

Top copyright lawyer Nicholas Caddick KC has stated that Starmer's plan could break the Berne Convention. This important international treaty ensures that creators' work is protected as soon as it is written or recorded. According to Caddick, the proposed exception would allow AI companies to use creative materials without compensation to the original creators, which fundamentally undermines the principles of the Berne Convention.

High-profile figures in the music industry, including Sir Elton John, Brian May, and Simon Cowell, are actively campaigning against this proposal. They argue that allowing tech companies to utilize artistic works without payment jeopardizes Britain's £126 billion creative sector. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber also voiced his concerns, stating that the current state of copyright protection is alarming and harmful to the UK's creative landscape.

Leading AI artist Refik Anadol, who creates pieces worth up to £1.5 million, has joined this campaign. Despite benefiting from AI technology, he emphasizes the importance of ethical practices in using creative works. Anadol insists that AI comes with 'responsibilities' and advocates for proper crediting of original creators.

The current copyright laws grant creators automatic protection, meaning they should be compensated if their works are used without permission. However, the government's recent consultation suggested an exception that would effectively allow AI firms to use British artists' works freely unless the creators actively choose to opt out.

Caddick's legal opinion was submitted as part of the Publishers Association's response to the government's consultation. He argues that the proposed 'opt-out' exception violates the stipulations of the Berne Convention, which grants creators exclusive rights to authorize the reproduction of their works. Caddick believes that the current proposal fails to meet the necessary conditions that would allow for such an exception.

A government spokesperson responded to the backlash, stating that the Berne Convention does not explicitly address the interaction of copyright law with artificial intelligence. They assured that the government would carefully consider international legal obligations in developing any final policy.

copyright, AI, international