Over 1,000 musicians, including Kate Bush and Cat Stevens, released a silent album on Feb 25 to oppose Britain's proposed copyright changes. These changes could allow AI firms to train models on artists' work without direct consent.The global creative industry is debating AI’s legal and ethical impact, as models generate content by learning from existing works without compensating creators. Britain, aiming to be an AI leader, has proposed loosening copyright laws, permitting AI training on any legally accessible material unless creators explicitly opt out.
Artists argue this undermines copyright principles by forcing them to protect their work rather than granting them automatic control. Bush questioned whether musicians' voices would be lost in the future.
Titled Is This What We Want?, the album features recordings of empty studios, symbolizing the potential threat to artists' livelihoods. The public consultation on the changes closed on Feb 25.
A government spokesperson claimed the current copyright laws hinder AI and creative industries but assured that no decisions had been finalized. Musicians, including Hans Zimmer, Annie Lennox, and The Clash, continue urging the government to reconsider. Organizer Ed Newton-Rex warned the proposal risks handing musicians' work to AI firms for free.