Paul McCartney and Dua Lipa Lead the Call for Starmer to Revise AI Copyright Proposals | Artificial Intelligence (AI)

A large number of prominent figures and organizations in the UK’s creative sector, including Coldplay, Paul McCartney, Dua Lipa, Ian McKellen, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, have called on the prime minister to safeguard artists’ copyright and prevent the unfettered use of their work by big tech companies. In an open letter to Keir Starmer, these major artists point out that creatives’ livelihoods are endangered by ongoing negotiations over a government plan to allow artificial intelligence firms to utilize copyright-protected materials without authorization. They describe copyright as essential to their professions and caution that the proposed legal shift could jeopardize Britain’s reputation as a global creative force. The letter emphasizes that allowing big tech companies to access creative works without permission would not only threaten artists’ future earnings but also Britain’s creative prowess and the integrity of UK laws in technology. The signatories urge the government to support an amendment to the data bill proposed by Beeban Kidron, which aims to require AI companies to disclose which specific works they have used to train their models. They encourage parliamentarians from all political stripes and in both parliamentary chambers to back this proposal, emphasizing that supporting creators is essential for fostering future innovation. The over 400 signatories, representing various forms of media and arts, include Elton John, Kazuo Ishiguro, Annie Lennox, Rachel Whiteread, Jeanette Winterson, as well as cultural institutions like the National Theatre and the News Media Association. Despite the government’s opposition to such changes, arguing that a currently ongoing consultation process should determine the alterations to copyright laws, the potential impact on young artists and the future of creative industries remains at the heart of this debate.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/may/10/paul-mccartney-and-dua-lipa-among-artists-urging-starmer-to-rethink-ai-copyright-plans