Overview
- The government says it no longer has a preferred option on reform and has dropped a broad exception with opt-out as its favored route, while keeping narrower exemptions under consideration.
- About 97% of 11,520 consultation respondents opposed the opt-out approach, following public objections from prominent artists and creative sector leaders.
- Officials will gather further evidence and prioritize work on digital replicas, AI labeling, creator control and transparency, including best practices for disclosure and technical standards.
- Authorities plan to monitor court cases in the UK and overseas, including how secondary liability could apply to imported models, with cross-border limits underscored by the Getty Images v. Stability AI litigation.
- Creative groups welcomed the reversal yet warned of remaining risks, as industry convenes a March 30 emergency summit and the Creative Content Exchange prepares a summer pilot to test licensing models.