06/12/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/12/2025 04:31
12.06.2025: The House of Lords is set to pass the Government's Data (Use and Access) Bill without transparency and copyright provisions on AI.
The Data (Use and Access) Bill has been considered before Parliament since last Autumn, alongside the Government proposing that big tech firms should be permitted to train their generative AI systems on the work of creators and music companies without permission, payment, or transparency regarding the material they have used.
During this time, members of the House of Lords won a series of votes against the Government to introduce provisions that would secure greater transparency from AI firms to determine whether they have trained their systems on music. This would have given creators and music companies much needed protections, with the Government making very limited concessions in response.
The Bill will now become law, and the Government will proceed with the next steps on its response to the consultation on AI and copyright, which concluded at the end of February.
Reacting to the news, UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl said: "After five Government defeats, on Wednesday the House of Lords decided not to press issue of AI, transparency and copyright further on Data Bill, marking an end to a momentous battle where the needs of our creative community have been valiantly fought for.
"While the concessions secured fall short of being meaningful, other opportunities will present themselves to pick up this fight to achieve proper protections for our creators and music businesses. Thanks to Baroness Kidron and all other Parliamentarians that have played a part in this important moment."
Since the Autumn of 2024, the music and creative industries as well as cross-party MPs have come together in a show of unprecedented support for creators and creative companies. Creative business leaders, executives, politicians, and global superstars including the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John have sent the message loud and clear to Government that AI firms must not be allowed to steal the work of our sector without permission or payment.
Their collective efforts have led to media campaigns which have captured the entire nation's attention and made a complex and potentially niche subject a mainstream concern.
UK Music organised a gathering at Westminster to call on the Government to ditch its AI plans, with stars from the UK's £125 billion creative sector turning out in force with placards to make their point at a rally opposite the Houses of Parliament. Among the music creators at the event were multi-Grammy Award-winning producer and composer Giles Martin, artist and producer Bishi, violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason, and musician Igor Haefeli of the band Daughter.
MPs and peers from across the political spectrum who attended included Alex Sobel MP, Pete Wishart MP, Victoria Collins MP, Colum Eastwood MP, Samantha Niblett MP, UK Music Chair Lord Watson, Lord Watts, and Lord Clement-Jones.
The Government will now begin planning its next steps, while the industry will continue to fight for the rights of creators and music businesses.
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