UK celebrities force government to abandon AI copyright loophole, warning Australia
British stars succeeded in making the UK government drop a plan that would let AI firms use copyrighted works without permission, and they caution Australian leaders not to repeat the mistake.
A coalition of prominent British musicians and actors—Elton John, Paul McCartney, Björn Ulvaeus, Julianne Moore and Thom Yorke—pressured the UK government to abandon a draft rule that would have permitted AI firms to train on copyrighted content without explicit permission. The movement was organized by peer Beeban Kidron, a member of the House of Lords, who pushed legislative amendments and helped marshal celebrity opposition.
Creative activists staged symbolic actions—a “silent” album recorded in unused studios and an “empty” book listing 10,000 writers—to illustrate the threat to creators’ earnings. Public opinion polls indicated that seven-in-ten UK adults back royalty payments for AI training use. Campaign spokespeople warn that Australia’s prime minister should not repeat the UK’s misstep, as the tech sector continues to argue for a balanced policy. Former culture adviser Pierre Andrews predicts another policy reversal may be needed if Australian lawmakers pursue similar reforms.
Why it matters
The episode shows celebrity influence on copyright law and signals challenges for Australia’s AI policy.
In this story
