![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/skynews-liz-kendall-ai_7196564.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe UK government has scrapped plans to introduce copyright law exceptions which would allow AI firms to use the work of songwriters without their permission.<\/p>\n
The government had been in favour of allowing AI developers to train their machines on copyrighted works, with rightsholders having an opt-out option.<\/p>\n
However, that approach was “overwhelmingly rejected by the vast majority of the creative industries”, Liz Kendall, the minister for innovation and technology, said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Due to this, she announced, “the government no longer has a preferred option”.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Image:
\n The change of course was announced in a statement by Liz Kendall<\/p>\n
The decision was welcomed as a “first step” which avoided the “worst outcome” by The Ivors Academy, which represents songwriters and composers.<\/p>\n
The government was urged to go further by UK Music and other creative bodies.<\/p>\n
“We urge them to go further and rule out resurrecting this plan throughout their period in office,” UK Music boss Tom Kiehl said.<\/p>\n
More on Artificial Intelligence<\/p>\n
“The 220,000 people in our sector, which generates \u00a38bn for the UK economy, should be entitled to work and earn a living without the constant fear that the fruits of their labour could effectively be taken by AI firms without payment or permission.”<\/p>\n
The government now plans to launch a consultation in the summer on how to address the harm caused by unpermitted “digital replicas”, while protecting legitimate innovation.<\/p>\n
The plans had caused widespread outrage within the creative industries.<\/p>\n
Producer Giles Martin described the now-abandoned plans to allow AI firms to use artists’ work without permission, unless creators opt out, as like allowing criminals to burgle houses unless specifically told not to.<\/p>\n
Read more from Sky News: Sir Elton John and Simon Cowell were among the celebrities who had backed a campaign opposing the government’s previous proposals.<\/p>\n More than 1,000 artists and musicians, including Kate Bush, Damon Albarn, Sam Fender and Annie Lennox, previously recorded a silent album in protest<\/a> at proposed changes.<\/p>\n Concerns about unfair mining of material by AI firms have grown across different sectors in recent years.<\/p>\n Image:
UK weather: Temperatures could soar to 21C<\/a>
Senegal stripped of the Africa Cup of Nations<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Sky](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/skynews-david-rhodes-chairman_7175470.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n Sky News chairman David Rhodes announced Sky News had helped form the Standards for Publisher Usage Rights coalition<\/p>\n