September 2026
Unpacking the government's initial consultation response on AI and copyright
Key contact: Declan Goodwin
In the first government response to its consultation on AI and copyright, the UK Secretaries of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (SIT) and for Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) in March issued a joint letter to the Parliamentary Committees for Science, Innovation and Technology and Culture, Media and Sport.
The response stated the government’s firm commitment to engage with both creators and developers of AI technology.
Key points from the government's response:
- The consultation garnered over 11,500 responses
- The government has not yet finalised any decisions and continues to review the consultation feedback to inform policy
- The implementation of any text and data mining (TDM) exception will hinge on the development of “workable technical solutions in place for rights reservation”
- Plans are underway to establish working groups comprising key stakeholders to develop proposals focusing on transparency, technical solutions, and standards, building on meetings between officials and ministers over the consultation period
- There is no announced timeline for next steps at this point
Next Steps for UK AI and Copyright Policy:
The government's cautious response emphasises the need for balancing rights and innovation through practical and implementable solutions before enacting legislative changes.
The formation of technical working groups suggests a move towards developing standardized methods for rights reservation and transparency in AI training data. These groups will play a crucial role in shaping the future framework of AI and copyright policy in the UK.
“Both IP rights holders and technology companies should pay close attention to further government announcements on this issue,” says Declan Goodwin, Commercial & Technology Partner.
“Copyright holders should monitor the development of any TDM exception that may be announced, to make sure they have opted out if they wish to have their work excluded from AI training data.”
For advice on exploiting and protecting your IP portfolio, contact our Intellectual Property team.
