UK AI Innovation Halted by House of Lords as Copyright Amendments Scupper Data Access Bill
The House of Lords has voted to reinstate amendments to the Data Use and Access Bill, demanding AI developers to disclose all works used in the pre-training, fine-tuning, or any other data input processes. This legislative action, which limits data access, runs counter to the bill's purpose and poses a substantial risk to its passage.
In a statement, Ayesha Bhatti, the head of digital policy for the UK and EU at the Center for Data Innovation, expressed concern over the potential repercussions. If accepted in its current form, the bill could impose technically complex and pricey legal requirements on developers, potentially stifling innovation at a critical juncture for the AI sector.
Upcoming portions of the bill could have far-reaching implications for the UK's AI ecosystem. Restrictions on the use of copyrighted materials may lead to substantial economic losses, with estimates suggesting that overly stringent copyright rules could cost the UK economy £182 billion over two decades.
Credited works used in AI models have been a point of contention, with an ongoing debate about whether doing so constitutes copyright infringement. The proposed "opt out" model, which would grant AI developers automatic access to copyrighted materials unless rights holders object, is seen as a means to foster innovation, but it has raised concerns over creators' loss of control.
Transparency requirements, such as the suggested full disclosure of copyrighted works, have been a subject of contention in the legislative process. The House of Lords initially advocated for increased transparency, but the House of Commons has resisted these changes, favoring the government's original, more permissive stance.
Stakeholders in the creative industries have vigorously opposed the "opt out" approach, fearing AI companies may exploit their work without permission or remuneration. Meanwhile, legislators continue to push for strong copyright safeguards, leading to a dynamic back-and-forth at the core of the Data Use and Access Bill.
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- The House of Lords' decision to reinstate amendments on the Data Use and Access Bill, which mandates AI developers to disclose their data input processes, could potentially stifle innovation in the AI sector due to complex and expensive legal requirements.
- The upcoming sections of the Data Use and Access Bill could significantly impact the UK's AI ecosystem, with restrictions on the use of copyrighted materials potentially leading to economic losses amounting to £182 billion over two decades.
- The proposed "opt out" model, granting AI developers automatic access to copyrighted materials unless objected by rights holders, is seen as a way to promote innovation, but it has sparked concerns about creators losing control over their work.
- Transparency requirements, such as the full disclosure of copyrighted works, have been a contentious issue in the Data Use and Access Bill's legislative process, with the House of Lords advocating for increased transparency and the House of Commons resisting these changes.
