The analysis by Oliver & Ohlbaum, commissioned by the News Media Association, Publishers Association, and Publishers’ Licensing Services, examines three economic modelling reports from Microsoft/Public First, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) and the Centre for British Progress, and finds that none of the studies actually demonstrates that introducing a broad copyright exception for AI training would deliver net economic growth for the UK.
Owen Meredith, NMA CEO, said: “O&O’s rigorous analysis exposes Big Tech’s claims that degrading copyright will deliver growth for what they are: fantasy economics. The modelling they rely on ignores the real constraints on AI deployment in the UK and completely fails to account for the catastrophic consequences that weakening copyright would have for our world leading creative and media sectors.
“Most astonishingly, these studies simply pretend that licensing is not happening – when in reality a licensing market for AI training and grounding is already emerging and is capable of scaling to meet demand. With clarity and confidence from government in a robust copyright regime, the UK can build a genuinely pro growth AI economy in which both AI developers and creators prosper. We do not need to tear down copyright to get there – we just need certainty so we can get on with it.”
Tom West, PLS chief executive, said: “What this analysis makes clear is that the economic case for weakening copyright has not been demonstrated. The reports reviewed rely on assumptions that overlook both the scale of the UK’s creative industries and the licensing solutions already emerging to support AI development.
“Licensing is a proven and adaptable framework that enables innovation while ensuring publishers and authors are properly remunerated for the use of their work. We are working with our partners to develop new collective licensing solutions to give AI developers clear, practical routes to access published content lawfully. With the right policy certainty, the UK can support both a thriving AI sector and strong creative industries.”
Dan Conway, PA CEO, said: “O&O’s independent review provides a comprehensive takedown of the flawed and misleading arguments employed by the tech lobby.
“As the review identifies, not one of the three reports proves that copyright is a barrier to growth, nor considers the impact a copyright exception would have on the UK’s leading knowledge and creative industries. The value of the UK’s established AI licensing market is ignored completely. This is despite proof that publishers have been licensing high-quality content to support AI innovation and scientific progress for years.
“Calls for a commercial TDM exception in the name of AI growth are – yet again – a flimsy excuse for the wholesale transfer of value from UK companies to US Big Tech for free. The government needs to stick to its guns and back UK business, including publishing and the wider creative industries, through upholding copyright and standing firm against an increasingly egregious tech lobby.”
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