The creative industry writes to the Prime Minister

The News Media Association says over 400 creatives, media and creative business leaders, and creative
businesses have written to the Prime Minister, urging him to give Government support to
proposals that would protect copyright in the age of AI. This comes ahead of a crunch
vote on the plans in the House of Lords today, Monday 12 May.

Signatories to the letter represent a who’s who across the creative
industries, and include Elton John, David Furnish, Paul McCartney, Florence Welch, Kate Bush,
Coldplay, Antonia Fraser, Tom Stoppard, Richard Curtis, Ian McKellen, Kazuo Ishiguro,
Moira Buffini, Russell T Davies, Rachel Whiteread, Shirley Bassey, Antony Gormley,
Emily Eavis, Tom Dixon, John Pawson, Justine Roberts, amid hundreds of others.

The letter warns: “We will lose an immense growth opportunity if we give our
work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies and with it our future income,
the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse, and any hope that the technology of daily
life will embody the values and laws of the United Kingdom.”

The letter calls on Sir Keir Starmer to back Baroness Beeban Kidron’s
amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which would give the UK creative industries
urgently needed transparency over the copyright works ingested by AI models. This
transparency would allow creators and creative businesses to hold AI firms accountable for the
mass theft of creative works that continues to take place.

The letter, which has also been signed by Oliver Sim, Simon Rattle, Nicholas
Hytner, Jimmy McGovern, Lucy Kirkwood, Dua Lipa, Alan Ayckbourn, and scores of
business leaders and award-winning artists, tells the Prime Minister: “The first job
of any government is to protect its citizens. So, we urge His Majesty’s
Government to accept the Lords Amendments in the name of Baroness Kidron
that put transparency at the heart of the copyright regime and allow both AI
developers and creators to develop licensing regimes that will allow for human-created
content well into the future. These amendments recognise the crucial role that creative
content plays in the development of generative AI. They will spur a dynamic licensing market
that will enhance the role of human creativity in the UK, positioning us as a key
player in the global AI supply chain.”

The amendments have been tabled ahead of the first day of ‘Ping Pong’ in the
Lords, where provisions that would make copyright law enforceable were passionately supported on a cross-party basis earlier this year. The amendment creates a
requirement for AI firms to tell copyright owners which individual works they have
ingested. Copyright law is not broken, but you can’t enforce the law if you can’t see the crime
taking place. Transparency requirements would make the risk of infringement too great for
AI firms to continue to break the law.

Baroness Kidron said: “The creative industries welcome the new frontier of
creativity offered by advances in AI, but how AI is developed and who it benefits are two of the
most important questions of our time.

“The UK creative industries reflect our national stories, drive tourism,
create wealth for the nation and provide 2.4 million jobs across our four nations.
They must not be sacrificed to the interests of a handful of US tech companies.
Nor should we underestimate the role of human creativity in the joy of being
human nor the need for common facts to cement our collective experience.

“The UK is in a unique position to take its place a global player in the
international AI supply chain, but to grasp that opportunity requires the transparency
provided for in my amendments, which are essential to create a vibrant licencing
market.

“I am grateful to the extraordinary list of signatories to today’s letter to
the Prime Minister. Behind them stands the thousands of technicians, roadies, agents, costumers, make up, set designers, production and post-production staff,
sub-editors, and many more who make their work possible. Today they are raising
their voice for all those who make the UK an economic powerhouse of creativity and innovation. Most importantly, they are speaking out to ensure a positive
future for the next generation of creators and innovators.”

Government amendments requiring an economic impact assessment and reports on
the feasibility of an ‘opt-out’ copyright regime and transparency requirements
do not meet the moment, but simply leave creators open to years of copyright theft.

Lord Brennan of Canton, former MP and Labour Peer, said: “We cannot let mass
copyright theft inflict damage on our economy for years to come.
Transparency over AI inputs will unlock tremendous economic growth, positioning the UK as the premier market for the burgeoning trade in
high-quality AI training data. If the government cannot accept Baroness Kidron’s
amendments, I urge them to introduce provisions which will allow transparency measures
to be developed in months, not years. It is never ‘too soon’ to protect millions
of workers and defend our national interest.”

Lord Black of Brentwood, a Conservative Peer, said: “The Government
amendments set us on a timeline that will not see any transparency
provisions introduced until the very tail end of this Parliament at the earliest. Opt-out solutions simply do not exist, and the Government must not
rush into a rash decision on copyright law, but transparency is feasible and
necessary now. Rather than leaving creative and media businesses defenceless for years
to come, transparency will protect UK citizens’ property rights against Big
Tech and kickstart a highly lucrative UK market for AI training data.”

Lord Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Science, Innovation
and Technology in the Lords, said: “Transparency isn’t just an ethical
obligation – it’s the foundation for a vibrant licensing system where creators are respected and compensated. When AI developers acknowledge copyright through clear licensing frameworks, both innovation and creativity can flourish side by side. This dynamic
marketplace doesn’t hinder progress but accelerates it, transforming potential conflict
into collaboration and shared prosperity between our creative and tech sectors.”

The full letter to the Prime Minister and list of signatories can be seen
below:

Dear Prime Minister,

Creative copyright is the lifeblood of the creative industries. It
recognises the moral authority we have over our work and provides an income stream for 2.4
million people across the four nations of the United Kingdom. The fight to defend our
creative industries has been joined by scores of UK businesses, including those who use and
develop AI.

We are not against progress or innovation. The creative industries have
always been early adopters of technology. Indeed, many of the world’s greatest inventions,
from the lightbulb to AI itself, have been a result of UK creative minds grappling
with technology.

We are wealth creators, we reflect and promote the national stories, we are
the innovators of the future, and AI needs us as much as it needs energy and
computer skills. We will lose an immense growth opportunity if we give our work away at the
behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies and with it our future income,
the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse, and any hope that the technology of daily
life will embody the values and laws of the United Kingdom.

The first job of any government is to protect its citizens. So, we urge His
Majesty’s
Government to accept the Lords Amendments in the name of Baroness Kidron
that put transparency at the heart of the copyright regime and allow both AI
developers and creators to develop licensing regimes that will allow for human-created
content well into the future. These amendments recognise the crucial role that creative
content plays in the development of generative AI. They will spur a dynamic licensing market
that will
enhance the role of human creativity in the UK, positioning us as a key
player in the global AI supply chain.

To parliamentarians on all sides of the political spectrum and in both
Houses, we urge you to vote in support of the UK creative industries. Supporting us supports
the creators of the future. Our work is not yours to give away.

Signed:

MUSIC

Elton John

David Furnish

Paul McCartney

Coldpay

Kate Bush

Annie Lennox

Jamie Cullum

Tom Jones

Eric Clapton

Shirley Bassey

Florence Welch

Dua Lipa

Mark Ronson

Alfie Boe

Sting

Jessie Ware

Paloma Faith

Robbie Williams

Lucian Grainge

Pete Townshend

Olly Thornton

Kit Connor

Tony Marnach (DJ Fat Tony)

Giles Martin

Wretch32

Patrick Woodroffe

Rod Argent

Dickon Stainer

Barrie Marshall

Nickie Owen

Laura Snapes

Simon Rattle

Mark Antony Turnage

Edward Gardner

Emily Eavis

Rachel Fuller

Oliver Sim

Dukagjin Lipa

Gia Ford

Sam Pattinson

Jonathan Freeman-Atwood

Kirsty Macdonald

Paul Dugdale

Ed Newton-Rex

Jamie Wilson

Bob Harris

Mike Batt

Tom Speight

Amy Love

Georgia South

WRITERS, THEATRE & FILM

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Cameron Mackintosh

Ian McKellen

Kazuo Ishiguro

Tom Stoppard

Richard Curtis

Martin McDonagh

Jack Thorne

Jeanette Winterson

Michael Rosen

Russell T Davies

Richard Eyre

Pippa Harris

Alan Ayckbourn

Michael Frayn

David Hare

Patrick Marber

Stephen Daldry

Joe Murphy

Joe Robertson

Lee Hall

Richard Jones

David Lan

Hugh Grant

Matthew Warchus

Rupert Goold

Ian Rickson

Antonia Fraser

Steven Knight

Donald Passman

J. Eugene Saloman Jr.

Pawel Pawlikowski

Nicholas Hytner

Susie Orbach

Hannah Rothschild

Denise Swanson

Jimmy McGovern

Allan Cubitt

Tony Schumacher

Simon Beaufoy

Catherine Mayer

Natalie Abrahami

Pat Barker

April de Angelis

Richard Bean

Alecky Blythe

Danny Brocklehurst

Moira Buffini

Eleanor Catton

Carrie Cracknell

Tinuke Craig

Adam Cork

Tom Edge

Nadia Fall

Johnny Flynn

Christopher Hampton

Dennis Kelly

Kelly Marcel

Stephen Poliakoff

Sarah Phelps

Ben Power

Simon Stephens

Caleb Azumah Nelson

Iqbal Khan

Lucy Kirkwood

Isobel McArthur

Lolita Chakrabati

Frank Spotnitz

Mark Rosenblatt

Karen Kelly

Alexander Jacob

Marion Milne

Carolyn Saunders

Peter Strachan

Delyth Thomas

Vicki Kisner

Ruth Carney

Paul Tanter

Lotus Hannon

Ellie Brent

David Tucker

Bob Tomson

Emma Lindley

Matthew Evans

Michael Lacey

Gill Wilkinson

Ade Bean

Owen Tooth

Will Brenton

Leon Lopez

Phoebe Barran

Emma Bridgeman-Williams

Chantelle Kayll

Aashish Gadhvi

Penelope Shales-Slyne

Martin Gooch

Eleri B. Jones

Becky Wild

Steve Hughes

Audrey O’Reilly

Jamie Annett

Emma Reynolds

Debbie Howard

Judith Dine

Conor Morrissey

Bim Ajadi

David Hayman Jr

David Beauchamp

Sofia Olins

Kirsty Robinson-Ward

Atem Kuol

Dominic Stephenson

Bill Buckhurst

Sarah Kendell

Aurora Fearnley

Sunnie Sidhu

Marcus Lee

Charlotte Conquest

Abe Juckes

Alan de Pellette

Neil Wilkinson

Kodjo Tsakpo

Tim Courtney

David Kester

Katie Fenton-Green

Suri Krishnamma

Richard Lynn

Sean Glynn

Miranda Howard-Williams

Merlyn Rice

David Innes Edwards

Tim Finn

Tim O’Mara

Christopher McGill

Diana Patrick

David Crowley

Thomas Hescott

Vicky Thomas

Jason Wingard

Cóilín Ó Scolaí

Dominic Keavey

Sarah Esdaile

Indra Bhose

Matt Hilton

Seán Healy

Paul Riordan

Tim Royle

Yaz Al-Shaater

Paul Romero Mendez

Lee Trevor

Eddy Marshall

Duncan Foster

Khurrum M. Sultan

Daniel Wilson

Amy Coop

Karl Neilson

Brett Fallis

Paul Gibson

Dermot Boyd

Nickie Lister

Audrey Cooke

Miguel Guerreiro

Samantha Harrie

Nicole Charles

Menhaj Huda

Stephen Gallacher

Matthias Hoene

Ian Aryeh

Nirpal Bhogal

Lisa Gunning

Rebecca Rycroft

Laura Scrivano

Sean Glynn

Mahalia Belo

James Krishna Floyd

Alex Kalymnios

Mo Ali

Debs Paterson

Chloë Thomas

Candida Scott Knight

Tinge Krishnan

AJ Sykes

Joshua Reeves

Darcia Martin

Sally Wainright

Carys Lewis

Rita Osei

Jermain Julien

Sheridan De Meyrs

Sally El Hosaini

Georgia Parris

ARTISTS & DESIGNERS

Antony Gormley

Vicken Parsons

Rachel Whiteread

Mark Wallinger

Cornelia Parker

Ben Kelly

Emily King

David Chipperfield

Amanda Levete

Tim Marlow

Ben Evans

Kim Colin

Sam Hecht

Philip Gumuchdjian

Jane Withers

John Pawson

Sebastian Conran

Malcolm Garrett

Michael Anastassiades

Marc Newson

Alice Rawsthorn

Stafford Schmool

Deyan Sudjic

Doshi Levien Design Studio

Caruso St John Architects

Dids MacDonald

Robin Levien

Matthew Hilton

Jasper Morrison

Sam Hecht

Tom Dixon

Mark Farrow

Ed Carpenter

Terence Woodgate

Tom Lloyd

André Klauser

Michael Marriott

Sheridan Coakley

Huw Morgan, Graphic Thought Facility

Tomoko Azumi

Edward Barber

Jay Osgerby

John Tree

Anish Kapoor

MEDIA

Ted Verity, Editor, Mail Newspapers

John Ridding, CEO, Financial Times

Peter Wright, Editor Emeritus, DMG Media

Anna Jones, CEO, Telegraph Media Group

John McLellan, Director, Newsbrands Scotland

Owen Meredith, Chief Executive, News Media Association

Justine Roberts, CEO and Founder, Mumsnet

Chris Dicker, CEO, Candr Media Group

Zahra Shah, AI Journal

National Union of Journalists

NLA Media Access

560 Media Rights

Anthony Cond, President, Association of University Presses and Chief
Executive,

Liverpool University Press

Gary Shipton, Editor in Chief, National World

Mark Fuller, Chief Executive, Comic Book UK

Paul Connew, commentator, columnist, author and former national newspaper
editor

ARTS ORGANISATIONS

Tim Major, Co-Managing Director UK, Sony Music Publishing

Antony Bebawi, President, Global Digital, Sony Music Publishing

David Ventura, Co-Managing Director UK, Sony Music Publishing

Mark Getty, Co-Founder & Chair, Getty Images

Hannah Essex, Co-CEO, Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre

Universal Music Publishing Group

The Associated Press

The Old Vic

Young Vic

National Theatre

English National Ballet

Royal Shakespeare Company

Sadlers Wells

Shakespeare’s Globe

Southbank Centre

Birmingham Royal Ballet

Bristol Old Vic

Britten Pears Arts

Donmar Warehouse

Edinburgh International Festival

English Touring Opera

Garsington Opera

Glyndebourne

Northern Ballet

Opera North

Rambert

Royal Ballet and Opera

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

St Georges Bristol

The Lowry

Tiata Fahodzi

Warwick Arts Centre

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Mark Moran, Managing Editor, Landor LINKS Ltd

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition

Crispin Hunt, President, PRS Members’ Council

Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu

Christian Zimmermann, CEO, DACS

Mat Pfleger, CEO, Copyright Licensing Agency

Andy Harrower, Chief Executive, Directors UK

Paul W Fleming, General Secretary, Equity

Piers North, CEO, Reach plc

John McVay, CEO, Pact

Sajeeda Merali, CEO, PPA

Angela Mills Wade, Executive Director, European Publishers Council

Tayyiba Nasser, CEO, British Equity Collecting Society

Joanna Prior, CEO, Pan Macmillan

Jon Westbrook, Co-Founder, Independent Publishers Alliance

Paul Seheult, Chief Executive, PICSEL

Isabelle Doran FRSA, CEO, Association of Photographers; Vice Chair, Creators
Rights Alliance

Richard Reeves, CEO, AOP (Association of online publishers)

Stephanie Reeves, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, British Copyright
Council

Darren Toogood, Editor/Publisher, Island Echo Ltd

ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers)

BAPLA (British Association of Picture Libraries & Agencies)

Association of Authors’ Agents

Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru / Welsh Independent Producers (TAC)

The Association of Independent Music Publishing Scotland

The Society of Artists’ (Illustrators’) Agents

Audrey Lim, Head of Engineering, Hivekind

Ben Woollams, CEO, TrueRight

Hester Bates, Marketing, TrueRight

Asa Burrows, CEO & Founder, SKC Games Studio

Babita Devi, CCO, SKC Games Studio

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive, Independent Society of Musicians

Newry.ie

Association of Illustrators

Ellie Peers, General Secretary, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain

Artists’ Collecting Society (ACS)

Dawn Alford, CEO, Society of Editors

Anna Ganley, Chief Executive, Society of Authors

Mike Glover, Media Consultant

Roberto Neri, CEO, The Ivors Academy

Luke Allcott, Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and CRA Board

Rachel Hill, Association of Illustrators and CRA Board

Mike Holderness, National Union of Journalists and CRA Board

Ellie Peers, Writers Guild of Great Britain and CRA Board

Tom Peters, Equity and CRA Board

Jessica Craig, Musicians Union and CRA Board

Rachel Buswell, Head of Digital Partnerships & Analytics, Domino
Recording Co.

Junior Foster, Head of Digital Partnerships, Because Music

Alexis Metaoui, Chief Digital Officer, Because Music

Jeremy Lascelles, CEO, Chrysalis Records / Blue Raincoat Music

Toby Egekwu, Label & Publishing Exec, Finesse Foreva / Sentric Music

Dr Jo Twist OBE, chief executive, BPI

ALCS

Publishers’ Licensing Services (PLS)

The Music Publishers Association

Tony Harlow, Chief Executive Officer, Warner Music UK

Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland

Tami Hoffman, Guardian

8Huda Ali, Guardian

Dominic Cooper, Chief Executive, CIoJ

Alistair Norbury, President – UK, Europe & APAC, BMG

Sophie Jones, Chief Strategy Officer, BPI

Femi Olasehinde, Director, Just Another Label and BPI Council

Pat Carr, CEO & Founder, Remote Control Agency and BPI Council

YolanDa Brown, artist, broadcaster and BPI Chair

Victoria Oakley, CEO, IFPI

Alastair Lloyd-Webber, Co-Founder & CEO, The Other Songs

Billy Lloyd-Webber, Co-Founder, The Other Songs

Ben Kerr, CEO, Cold Glass Productions

Rupert King, Manager, Blue Raincoat Music

Pru Harris, Managing Director, Marathon Music Group

Mark Lippmann, Managing Director, Scruff of the Neck Records

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