Hundreds of UK Creatives Urge Starmer to Protect Copyright from AI

Over 400 prominent British artists and creatives, including Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, Ian McKellen, and Coldplay, have jointly urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to protect their work from unpermitted use by AI companies. They support an amendment to the Data Bill, proposed by crossbench peer Baroness Beeban Kidron, which would require AI developers to disclose which copyrighted works were used to train their models and establish transparent licensing agreements. The artists warn that without such protections, creators risk effectively giving away their work to powerful overseas tech firms, threatening both their livelihoods and the UK's standing as a global creative leader. The government has faced significant backlash from the creative sector and is reportedly instructing Labour peers to oppose the amendment, despite consultations aimed at balancing the interests of creators and AI companies. Some critics argue that the proposed measures could hinder the UK's economic growth, but supporters emphasize that transparency and licensing are vital to preserving creative rights and fostering innovation. This issue is set to be decided in a key House of Lords vote, with widespread industry pressure on the government to adopt more creator-friendly AI copyright regulations.