UK Campaigners Warn Australia Against AI Copyright Opt-Out Model

Creative industry figures who successfully campaigned against a proposed UK rule allowing artificial intelligence companies to train on copyrighted work without prior permission have warned Australia against pursuing a similar policy, according to a report by The Next Web (https://thenextweb.com/news/uk-campaigners-warn-australia-ai-copyright) citing interviews in The Guardian.

The Australian government is considering an opt-out framework that would permit AI developers to scrape and ingest creators' works unless rights holders formally object. Leaked internal slides from the Australian Attorney-General's Department revealed the initiative, as first reported by ABC News.

The UK government abandoned a comparable opt-out plan in March. UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall announced at the time that ministers dropped their preferred approach after only 3% of more than 10,000 public consultation respondents supported an opt-out mechanism.

Beeban Kidron, a film director and member of the House of Lords who helped lead the UK political campaign, told The Guardian that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese should take note. Kidron warned that Albanese should avoid damaging his standing by undermining domestic creative professionals.

Composer Ed Newton-Rex, a former AI executive who coordinated a silent protest album backed by over 1,000 musicians and an empty book signed by 10,000 writers, said public opposition quickly crystalized in Britain once people realized AI developers were seeking unpaid access to creative content.

Technology industry representatives maintain that training models and compensating creators are compatible goals. Antony Walker of trade association techUK told The Guardian that creative rights holders had effectively drowned out debate in the UK.

Major AI developers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, have urged Australian authorities to loosen copyright rules. OpenAI told officials it could not establish an Australian AI training facility without revisions to copyright regulations, according to ABC News. A spokesperson for Australian Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated the government continues to consult on policies that ensure meaningful control and fair remuneration for creators.