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MPs and authors, including Kate Mosse, have raised major concerns about the alleged wholesale theft of copyright by generative artificial intelligence (GAI) companies ahead of a debate next week.

Dozens of organizations and individuals have voiced their support for Baroness Kidron’s amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, at an event on Monday (December 9) that would make UK copyright law enforceable. The amendments will be discussed at the Lords Committee Stage of the Data (Use and Access) Bill next Monday (16) or Wednesday 18 December.

The amendments were signed by Lord Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat Lords spokesman for science; Lord Stevenson, former Labor spokesman for science, innovation and technology; and Lord Freyberg.

These amendments would make the existing UK copyright framework enforceable, allowing creative industries, media organizations and individual creators to decide whether their copyrighted work can be used to train artificial intelligence (AI) models. They would also allow creators to negotiate fair terms when licensing their content. By fostering a dynamic market for creative content in GAI development, these measures would ensure that both the creative and technology sectors can flourish together.

Stakeholders such as Women’s Prize for Fiction founder Mosse have spoken out on the issue.

Mosse said: “Everyone is interested in how we can do things more efficiently. If there is no time for creators to create, there will be nothing to mine data.

“As a writer I want to work on AI, and I do. But we’re looking for the F-word: honesty. Copyright exists. Intellectual property exists. But the law is not being enforced and there is a clear misappropriation of the law. If you say you want to get paid, it seems like you’re rejecting AI. There is a deliberate blurring of technology companies.”

The bestselling author added: “What we need is not an ‘opt-out’ – which won’t work because authors don’t have time for it. In many ways, this solution would be a barrier to new creation. It will kill originality.

“In summary: do not destroy copyright. Respect creators. Give us a seat at the table – we’re not here to hold you back. We embrace change. But if copyright is weakened it will seriously damage the creative industries, and without it there will be nothing left.”

As well as posing an existential threat to Britain’s leading creative industries, concerns have also been raised that innovation in GAI could stagnate if companies and creators are not properly rewarded for the use of their work. Without fair compensation, they will not be able to continue producing the high-quality content that serves as essential fuel for advanced GAI models.

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