US EditionElton John Condemns UK Government's AI Copyright Proposal as 'Theft'
- On 14 May 2025, Members of Parliament in the House of Commons rejected, by a vote of 297 to 168, a modification proposed by the House of Lords concerning copyright permissions within the Data Bill.
- The amendment aimed to require copyright holders’ consent and transparency about how their works were used, but the government opposes it, citing ongoing copyright and AI consultations.
- Sir Elton John and hundreds of creatives condemned the government’s stance, warning the changes would let tech firms use artists’ content without fair compensation, threatening legacy and income.
- John called the changes "criminal" and said he felt "incredibly betrayed," adding, "We'll fight it all the way" and expressing willingness to take legal action against ministers.
- The government insists the Bill will unlock secure data use to boost the economy by £10 billion over 10 years, aiming to support growth that benefits creative industries and AI sectors.
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90 Articles
UK govt 'absolute losers' around AI decisions - Sir Elton John
United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about the UK Government set to host EU leaders in London, in the first summit since Brexit and how criminals in the UK could soon be spending their sentences filling in potholes. She also spoke about how Sir Elton John said the UK Government are 'absolute losers' because of decisions around artificial intelligence.
‘Absolute Losers’: Rock Legend Elton John Torches Labour UK Government Over AI Copyright Rules, Brands Minister ‘A Bit of a Moron’
Elton John wants tech firms to recompense musical creators whose art helped ‘train’ AI models. Famed entertainer Elton John came out today in defense of music creators and blasted the Labour government that he supported for its AI copyright rules. John accused Keir Starmer’s government of ‘committing theft’ by allowing tech firms to train artificial intelligence models on the UK’s music catalogue without any sort of recompense. The legal and eth…
Elton John blasts UK government for ‘criminal’ AI copyright plans
Elton John has criticised the UK government’s plans to exempt technology firms from copyright laws. UK ministers have recently rejected proposals to force artificial intelligence companies to obtain permission from copyright holders. In an interview with the BBC, the British singer says it would be a “criminal offence” for AI firms to use artists’ content without paying a fee.
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