The UK government has dropped a controversial proposal that would have let AI companies use creators

UK Scraps AI Copyright Plan After Musicians Revolt—'Major Victory' for Creators

The UK government has backed down. A controversial AI copyright proposal—which would have let firms train models on copyrighted work by default under an "opt-out" system—has been scrapped after fierce opposition from the likes of Elton John, Dua Lipa, and the House of Lords. Science Minister Liz Kendall confirmed the government listened and won't move forward.

A new report highlights the lack of consensus on balancing creator rights with AI growth. UK Music CEO Tom Kiehl called the reversal a "major victory." For now, no replacement is on the table—and the government says it won't touch copyright law without being sure reforms actually work. Tech industry voices warn the policy vacuum could leave the UK lagging globally.