UK delays AI copyright bill after artist backlash
Mar 6th 2026
The UK government has delayed an AI copyright reform after wide opposition from creators and consultees; ministers will rethink proposals that would have allowed AI firms to train on copyrighted works without consent and the bill is now unlikely to appear in the King's Speech.
- The planned data bill that would let AI firms train on copyrighted material without consent has been paused after a two month consultation showed broad opposition.
- Officials now do not expect the AI bill to be included in the King's Speech scheduled for May.
- Ministers will return to the drawing board and explore alternative approaches rather than pressing the current proposals.
- The House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee called for a licensing-first regime with robust transparency to protect creators' livelihoods.
- Parliament had leaned toward an opt-out system backed by some tech firms, a position publishers, filmmakers and musicians say would threaten the creative industries.
- A Lords amendment requiring disclosure of works used to train models was introduced but was blocked by the House of Commons last year, and high profile artists including Elton John and Paul McCartney publicly criticised the proposals.