Today (17 December 2024), the Government launched its much anticipated consultation into Copyright and Artificial Intelligence. The full consultation can be found here.

The Government is consulting on a range of proposals but favours an approach which would allow AI companies to use members’ copyrighted work without express permission being granted. This mirrors the approach taken by the EU and has drawn much criticism for being impractical, unworkable and burdensome for individual creatives and small businesses.

We are still working through the details of the proposals in full but are concerned that they will have a damaging impact on writers’ income and careers.

We have been clear that AI companies should not be able to use our members’ work without explicit permission and fair remuneration and that any system must be based on an opt-in model.

The approach the Government is taking poses a huge risk to our members’ intellectual property and the success of the creative industries as a whole.

We will be consulting with members on these proposals, and what they mean for them in the New Year before forming our full response. WGGB members please check your inboxes for more details on how to get involved.

View our policy position statement Writers and AI here, and our manifesto Putting writers at the heart of the story (which features a section on copyright and AI) here.

Photo: Shutterstock.com/PixelsHunter