OpenAI and Google have opposed the UK government’s proposed approach to addressing AI and copyright issues. Their responses to a consultation, which concluded in February, add pressure on the government regarding proposals that have already faced criticism from creatives and lawmakers.
The UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee had requested these submissions after representatives from both companies opted not to present evidence to MPs about their positions.
The government’s consultation suggested amending copyright law to permit AI companies to use public content for training models commercially without needing permission from rights holders, unless those rights holders choose to opt out. This proposal includes increased transparency requirements for AI companies.
Tech giants warn UK government of potential impact on competitiveness and collaboration
“In the EU, the lack of clear and scalable technical standards has created uncertainty about what opt-out methods are workable and valid, causing uncertainty for both AI companies and rightsholders,” said OpenAI in its response to the consultation. “In contrast, the US approach has sustained American leadership in earlier technological waves and now AI. The UK has a rare opportunity to cement itself as the AI capital of Europe by making choices that avoid policy uncertainty, foster innovation, and drive economic growth.”
Google, in its response, stated that rights holders currently have the means to exercise “choice and control” to stop web crawlers from scraping their online content. However, the company suggested that those who choose to opt out of AI training might not automatically be entitled to compensation if their content still appears in a model’s training data. “Excessive transparency requirements… could hinder AI development and impact the UK’s competitiveness in this space,” warned Google.
Earlier this week, the Tony Blair Institute urged the UK government to reconsider its AI-related copyright regulation strategy, warning that strict measures could hinder international collaboration and competitiveness in emerging technology sectors. In a report released on Wednesday, the institute highlighted that the UK’s current stance on AI and copyright could conflict with major technology economies, particularly the US. It suggested that mandating licensing for UK-generated content in AI model training might drive companies to move development to regions with more lenient regulations.
Last month, OpenAI and Google called on the US government to permit their AI models to train on copyrighted material. Both companies detailed their positions in proposals published this week, with OpenAI emphasising that applying fair use protections to AI is crucial for national security. These proposals were made following a request from the White House, which sought input from various stakeholders on President Donald Trump’s “AI Action Plan.”
Read more: UK risks global AI isolation under strict copyright rules, report claims
