U.K. Government Drops AI 'Opt-Out' Plan After Industry Pushback
The U.K. government has abandoned plans to let artificial intelligence firms train their models on music without explicit permission from copyright holders. Minister for Innovation and Technology Liz Kendall announced the decision on March 18, saying the opt-out approach had been "overwhelmingly rejected by the vast majority of the creative industries."
Under the proposed legislation, copyright holders would have needed to actively opt out of AI training. The burden fell on artists and labels to prevent their work from being used rather than requiring AI companies to seek permission first.
The government said it will launch a new consultation to find an approach that protects copyright holders while encouraging innovation.
Industry Response
Music industry leaders have welcomed the reversal. Tom Kiehl, chief executive of U.K. Music, called the opt-out plans "deeply damaging" and urged the Labour government to rule out resurrecting them.
He said the 220,000 people working in the sector, which generates £8 billion annually for the U.K. economy, should not face the threat of having their work used by AI firms without payment or permission.
Dr. Jo Twist OBE, chief executive of the BPI, pointed to problems in the European Union, which adopted an opt-out scheme. "Other markets have shown that opt-out schemes introduce more legal uncertainty, are unworkable in practice, and are woefully ineffective in protecting creative work from misuse and theft," she said.
Artist Opposition
High-profile artists have campaigned against the plans for over a year. Sir Elton John spoke against the approach at an industry event in June 2025, saying artists want "a solution" that is "transparent and fair" and allows them to "maintain control of their work."
Other artists including Paul McCartney and Dua Lipa voiced similar concerns. Last year, more than 1,000 artists, including Damon Albarn and Kate Bush, contributed to a silent album titled Is This What We Want? to protest the opt-out proposal.
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