Writers protest ‘theft’ by AI companies, while Publishers’ Licensing Services suggests a way forward

New opt-in collective licensing scheme could allow publishers to be

As the UK government faces growing pressure over AI and copyright, two initiatives at the London Book Fair highlight the conflict and a possible solution.

Don’t Steal This Book

First, around 10,000 writers, including Kazuo Ishiguro, Philippa Gregory and Richard Osman, have added their names to an empty book with the title Don’t Steal This Book, with is being distributed at the Book Fair.

The protest was organised by composer and campaigner Ed Newton-Rex, who accuses AI companies of stealing content without permission. It is designed to keep pressure on the government, which has proposed a “commercial research exception” to copyright law to loosen restrictions on AI companies’ use of copyrighted materials.

“This is not a victimless crime,” said Newton Rex. “Generative AI competes with the people whose work it is trained on, robbing them of their livelihoods. The government must protect the UK’s creatives, and refuse to legalise the theft of creative work by AI companies.”

The initiative comes days after a House of Lords committee warned that generative AI poses a “clear and present danger” to the UK’s creative industries.

A government spokesperson said: “The government wants a copyright regime that values and protects human creativity, can be trusted, and unlocks innovation.”

Sources have told the FT that reforms to AI copyright laws, due to be announced on 18^th March, will likely be put on hold following a backlash by writers, artists and musicians and the Lords debate. “Copyright is going to be kicked down the road,” a source said.

Publishers’ Licensing Services suggests a way forward

Newton-Rex and many of the UK’s major publishing trade bodies have come out in support of an initiative by the non-profit trade body Publishers’ Licensing Services.

PLS proposes a new collective licensing scheme for AI training and related uses of text. Developed with the Copyright Licensing Agency and the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society, it is an opt-in framework for publishers that would enable AI developers to train their models on content in return for payment to publishers.

The initiative is an extension of the UK’s established voluntary collective licensing model. It would include a licence plus an online content store through which AI companies can legally access material under defined terms.

Its aim is to ensure publishers and authors share in the value created by AI, while offering developers a lawful means of obtaining training material. It is not intended to replace existing deals between individual publishers and AI companies.

PLS chief executive Tom West said: “The pace of change is rapid, and publishers must remain active participants in shaping how their content is used.

“This first stage is about engagement and collaboration. By opting in, publishers will be part of collective approach that aims to ensure content use in AI models is lawful and fairly remunerated.”

In a press release, the organisation said it wants publishers to engage with the initiative so they can help shape the next stage.