How could affect the copyright changes to the UK in the music industry

More than 1,000 musicians have ISSUED A silent album that protested against the changes proposed by the British government in the laws of copyright, allowing companies to train their models on works protected by copyright, such as music, art and text, without license or remuneration.

The album entitled ‘Is that what we want?“It is live on Spotify and includes empty recordings of studios and performance spaces, which the group demand It represents the impact of the Government’s proposal on the life of the musicians. Interesting is that the titles of different pieces on Spotify spell Apart from the message “the British government does not have to legalize the theft of music to benefit the companies.”

In a separate letter For The Times, several artists, including Elton John, Dua Lipa and Paul McCartney, warned that the proposal undermines the copyright law in the UK – a key factor in attracting rights and investments. By substantiating their claims, they added that the creative industries in the UK contribute annually to £ 126 billion to the country’s economy and hire 2.4 million people.

British government’s proposal on copyright laws

Announced for public consultation in December 2024, the British Government of the United Kingdom proposal It aims to reduce the worries of the rights holders who express concerns about their works used in the formation of AI models and those of developers who are facing problems in the UK right of copyright law. The plan is based on three objectives- which support the control of the rights holders over their content, helping to develop the “world leadership models by the United Kingdom” and encouraging greater transparency.

While opening the proposal of public consultation, the government presented three different different choiceWhile mentioning his preference for each way:

Consolidation of existing copyright provisions

This method requires licenses for AI companies to train their models on copyright protected works, supported by transparency and lighter routes to apply copyright. However, the government claims that, although this would improve access to remuneration for creators, it would create difficulties for AI companies while accessing content in the United Kingdom, compared to other jurisdictions. Finally, since the option has curved access to materials for developers AI, despite the fact that it gave the right holders a greater control over their works, has not received preference.

Large Data Extraction Exception- a free license?

Within this option, companies could open my data on the works protected by copyright for training purposes, without the permission of the right holders. This mechanism would be subject to certain exceptions such as those listed in other countries such as Singapore and the US, however, since the approach has declined in terms of transparency and control objectives, has not been preferred.

Mineering data with reservation for rights

This preferred suggestion would allow companies to undertake the text and extract the data of copyright protected, unless the rights to the right does not give up proactive. In addition, online works should include a reservation of rights that can be read by the car, which would automatically indicate author restrictions on AI systems. The government claims that this method meets all the objectives mentioned above and provides for the “spread of spread and the benefits of productivity”, allowing the Sector of the United Kingdom to become more competitive at international level.

This proposal pointed out some of your country’s wider strategy, called The “Action Plan for Opportunities”, which detailed investments such as “Growth Zones” dedicated to the development of infrastructure and funds worth 14 billion euros for this purpose. This has contradicted strongly with the prudent of the former British government approach to Ai, who focused on approaching his risks.

Why are artists worried?

While technological giants like Google have previously argued in favor of the “renunciation” model for the formation of their algorithms, publishers have expressed concern about increasing the task, Financial Times reported. Fearing the “widespread theft of copyright protected materials, without remuneration”, the creators also stressed defects such as the ignorance of which companies are trying to extract their content to this system. Generative companies of AI that avoided their responsibilities was another problem highlighted Within this proposal.

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In addition to musicians, major UK newspapers have expressed opinions against proposed efforts displaying a prominentMake it correct“Message on their front pages. The campaign appeared in publications at the same time as the end of the consultation of AI and Copyright, that is, on February 25, 2025. Although the two cases differ in context, this campaign by the media in the UK is a reminiscence of the famous Indian Express “Indian Express” Empty editorial On June 28, 1975, which protested against press censors during the emergency situation of India. In order to explain, following the resumption of its publication, the newspaper broadcast an empty editorial page that highlights the censorship of the press by the Indira Gandhi government, drawing attention to injustice, similar to what publishers in the UK are trying to do.

The relationship between music tags and AI companies

Previously, they submitted music labels such as UMG, Warner Brothers Music and Sony Music complaints Against the companies AI for the formation of AI models from sound recordings from the works protected by the copyright. Instead, other companies such as YouTube have initiated Discussions with disc labels to “legally obtain the songs of popular artists to train their new tools.”

Meanwhile artists have called The interested parties to block the models have to “violate and devalue the rights of human artists.” Previously, the American Union of Media-Television and Radio-American professionals of Guild-American (SAG-AFTRA) screen actors Tentative agreement With disc labels he also asked for railings for artificial intelligence. It included the establishment of the clear and visible consent, the minimum compensation requirements and the specific details of the use provided before launching a sound recording using a digital replication of an artist’s voice.

Copy Right Conunder

Generally are copyright rights Two types– the writing of songs or the publication of the copyright (the rights on writing the songs or composition of a music piece) and registration of sound or master rights (rights belonging to the owner of the Sonor Master registration). Speaking of transactions with disc labels, they own and control all the elements of copyright. In addition, the copyright system is essential to receive royalties or payments made to the owners when the music is rendered, interpreted or reproduced.

Given the new British Government proposal, because copyright holders (record labels in certain cases) can prevent the preparation based on their activity through a “renunciation”, it still leaves artists and composers in the image. As a result, their rights to the content created by them can get to be ironed.

Music tags on your use

This concern can also be amplified by the vision of musical labels to AI. For example, the main vice -president of the UMG for strategic technology, Chris Horton noted about the future alignment of licenses, disputes and legislation to allow companies to work with creative industries in a interview with music ally. He also added that “music will be more interactive and receptive” and that “musicians will find incredible uses for AI systems we cannot predict today.” Instead Sony Music Group considered By embracing the use of a creative tool, he gave up the training of AI, given the desires of artists and composers. In general, with the disparate opinions of these discs and general criticisms of the proposed copyright changes in the UK, it remains to see how the artists adapt to the same thing and to the subsequent steps they do.

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