Over 30 luminaries from the UK‘s performing arts sector, including senior figures from the National Theatre, Opera North, and the Royal Albert Hall, have voiced their disquiet regarding the government’s proposed measures allowing AI firms to use creative works without the artists’ consent.
Leaders from these institutions highlight the vital dependence of performing arts on the “fragile ecosystem” of freelancers, whose livelihoods are underpinned by copyright laws.
The group of 35, which includes executives from Sadler’s Wells, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, issued a statement opposing the government’s plans to weaken copyright protection by granting exemptions to AI entities.
They emphasized that the thriving community of creative professionals, many of whom have dedicated decades to mastering their crafts, relies heavily on these rights for their sustenance.
While acknowledging the role of technological innovation in the arts, these cultural leaders expressed concerns that the government’s proposals could jeopardize their participation in AI development and deployment.
They called on ministers to reinforce the automatic copyright entitlements of creatives rather than advancing a scheme that would require rights holders to opt out to protect their works—an approach widely criticized as unfair and unworkable.
Additionally, the leaders urged the government to mandate AI companies to disclose how they acquire and utilize copyrighted materials, a move already proposed in the government’s copyright consultation.
In a passionate plea, the statement underlined the intrinsic value of music, drama, dance, and opera, asserting that these arts are central to the human experience and deserve robust governmental support.
Prominent UK cultural figures, including Sir Paul McCartney and Kate Bush, have also criticized the government’s proposals, which they believe could harm the creative sector.
Generative AI technologies, such as those used by ChatGPT, require extensive data training from various online sources, raising concerns over copyright integrity.
In response, a government spokesperson defended the proposed changes, arguing that the current copyright framework restricts the potential growth of the creative, media, and AI industries, and maintained that the new policy would balance the needs of AI developers and copyright holders, fostering an environment in which both can prosper.
