A committee of UK legislators has criticized the UK government for what they perceive as a passive stance on copyright infringements linked to large language models (LLMs).
In a letter directed to Science and Technology Minister Michelle Donelan, the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications and Digital expressed dismay at the government’s handling of copyright issues. They claim that the government’s limited actions effectively amount to an endorsement of copyright infringements.
These concerns arise amid the proliferation of generative AI tools like ChatGPT since its public preview in November 2022. There have been rising apprehensions about the use of copyrighted material, including text, images, and audio data, in developing these models.
The committee’s letter highlights the government’s perceived failure in enforcing copyright, describing their efforts as a series of ineffective roundtable discussions. This critique is contrasted with the substantial attention and funding allocated to AI safety initiatives, such as the recent £400 million funding for a new AI Safety Institute.
Moreover, the UK government has faced previous criticisms for not adequately safeguarding the creative industry against copyright infringements. Generative AI has also faced legal challenges in the past, with accusations of insufficient attribution in collaborative projects between Microsoft and OpenAI.
Microsoft has since vowed to defend its users from copyright infringement lawsuits, signaling a commitment to responsible AI practices. OpenAI has followed suit in this regard.
As the discourse on copyright and AI unfolds, the need for striking a balance between technological progress and safeguarding intellectual property rights becomes increasingly imperative. The government’s approach to addressing these concerns and ensuring a harmonious coexistence between innovation and copyright protection remains a subject of scrutiny and debate.
