Report on AI, Copyright, and the Creative Industries – UK Government Response - Berry Smith
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Report on AI, Copyright, and the Creative Industries – UK Government Response

On 15 May 2026, the UK Government published its response to the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee’s report on artificial intelligence, copyright and the creative industries, which was released in March 2026.

The response provides further insight into the Government’s evolving approach to AI regulation and the interaction between AI technologies and intellectual property rights.

Key points from the Government’s response include:

  • No immediate copyright reform. The Government has confirmed that it has no current plans to amend copyright legislation. Any future reforms will be considered only where there is clear evidence that they would support economic growth, benefit UK citizens and provide appropriate protection for both copyright holders and AI developers.
  • Licensing remains the preferred solution. The Government continues to view licensing as the primary mechanism for managing the use of copyright-protected works by AI systems. While it does not currently intend to intervene in the licensing market, it will establish a working group to consider whether independent creators and smaller creative organisations require additional support to licence their content effectively.
  • Greater transparency and control for creators. The Government will review the tools available to creators to help them control how their works are used online. This will include examining technical standards, transparency around AI training data and wider industry best practice. The Government’s position remains that practical, market-led solutions should be encouraged, with support from government where necessary.
  • Consultation on digital replicas. A consultation is expected in summer 2026 on the growing issue of digital replicas, including the unauthorised use of an individual’s image, voice or likeness through AI-generated content.

Overall, the response reinforces the Government’s preference for a cautious, evidence-based approach to AI regulation. Rather than introducing broad AI-specific legislation, it intends to continue monitoring developments in the UK and internationally before considering further regulatory reform. Consistent with its previous position, the Government has reiterated that AI should generally be regulated according to how it is used, rather than through a single overarching regulatory framework.

Given the absence of any AI legislation in the recent King’s Speech, the lack of immediate legislative proposals is unsurprising and broadly aligns with the Government’s earlier publications on AI and copyright under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.