British celebrities force UK government to reject AI firms' free use of copyrighted work
A coalition of high‑profile artists—including Sir Elton John, Sir Paul McCartney, Björn Ulvaeus, Julianne Moore and Thom Yorke—pressured the UK government to abandon a proposal that would let AI companies train models on copyrighted material without permission. The campaign was coordinated by peer‑reviewed parliamentarian and filmmaker Beeban Kidron and composer‑former AI executive Ed…
Key points
- UK government reversed plan to allow AI firms free use of copyrighted work after pressure from leading artists.
- Seven out of ten UK adults back paying royalties for AI training on copyrighted material, according to polling.
- Stunts included a silent album with over 1,000 musicians and an empty book signed by 10,000 writers.
Kidron says the effort “struck a chord with the public,” and the government’s backtrack was confirmed by former technology secretary Liz Kendall in March. The movement now warns Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese not to repeat the UK’s mistake, with advisers such as Pierre Andrews and techUK’s Antony Walker echoing concerns that rights‑holders were “shouting down the debate.”
British celebrities beat AI companies lobbying to get free use of their work. They have a warning for Australia
The Guardian AI · 27 September 2026
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This text was published by The Guardian AI and written by Dan Milmo. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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