Devon artists concerned by planned change to AI laws

Emma Ruminski BBC South West arts reporter BBC Author and illustrator Sarah McIntyre creates original work in her studio in Bovey Tracey Artists in Devon…

Artists in Devon say they are concerned government proposals to change copyright law could make it easier for Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies to use their work for free.

The government has proposed law changes which would allow AI developers to be able to use creators’ content on the internet to help develop their models, unless the rights holders elected to “opt out”.

The Devon Artist Network said it was “very worried” about the proposals and Devon illustrator Sarah McIntyre said it would be “disastrous” for her.

A consultation on the plans by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has closed and a spokesperson said no decisions had been taken yet.

Ms McIntyre, from Bovey Tracey, said she would be impacted if the change was to happen.

She said: “We’ve always owned our work, that’s just a part of British law.

“I made this, it’s mine and I can earn money from it and if someone else copies it then that’s against the law.

“But now they are saying everything we’ve ever created, all our artwork, we have to go back and opt out of it being used to train AI.”

Ms McIntyre has written to Mel Stride, Conservative MP for Central Devon, and asked for help.

Stride said although AI presented “significant opportunities for innovation and economic growth” the government was “putting the creative industries at risk”.

“Labour must press pause on its rushed consultation and rethink its approach to harness the benefits of AI without compromising the success of our creative industries,” he said.

Avenda Burnell Walsh from the Devon Artist Network said the group was also opposed to the plans.

She said: “My car is parked on the road all night and day in the public domain but I wouldn’t expect to have to say to somebody legally you can’t have this car it’s mine.

“You shouldn’t have to say that about your art either, should you?”

However some argue artists might benefit from the potential changes.

Mike Phillips, a professor of interdisciplinary arts at the University of Plymouth, said AI could be used for artists to track down copyright abuses.

He said: “It would be nice if some of the effort put into ripping stuff off was put into tracking stuff down.

“That is something AI is good at, identifying things and recognising patterns in things and so maybe that would allow artists to use AI and seek the benefits from it.”

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said it would consider the submissions the creative industries have made during the consultation.

It said the UK’s “current regime for copyright and AI is holding back the creative industries, media and AI sector from realising their full potential – and that cannot continue”.

“That’s why we have been consulting on a new approach.”

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