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Labour endure first Parliamentary defeat in authorities as Lords name for harder AI copyright reforms

Labour suffered their first Parliamentary defeat in government last night as peers backed reforms to stop big tech firms ignoring copyright rules when training their AI systems.

Crossbench peer Baroness Kidron had tabled a series of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill which would make clear that ‘web-crawlers’ and other ‘data-gatherers’ should stick to UK copyright law.

Backed by the recently formed Creative Rights in AI Coalition, whose members include the Publishers Association, UK Music, the Motion Picture Association and DMG Media, which owns the Daily Mail, her amendments sought to ‘counter the wide spread theft of IP by AI companies’ who use it as ‘raw material for their products’.

Minsters were accused of copying ‘the tech lobbyist language of uncertainty rather than defending the property rights of citizens and wealth creators’ by proposing the law in its current form.

Last night peers voted 145 to 126, majority 19, in favour of a package of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill.

Proposing the amendments, Baroness Kidron said the measures will ‘surface the names and owners of the crawlers that currently operate anonymously, record when, where and how intellectual property is taken and, crucially, allow creators to understand what has been taken so they can seek redress’.

She added: ‘As we debate today, hundreds of organisations and many individual rights holders are watching. 

‘They are watching to see what this House will do in the face of a government proposal that will transfer their hard-earned property from them to another sector without compensation, and with it their possibility of a creative life, or a creative life for the next generation.

Crossbench peer Baroness Kidron tabled a series of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill which clarify that 'web-crawlers' and 'data-gatherers' should stick to UK copyright law

Crossbench peer Baroness Kidron tabled a series of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill which clarify that ‘web-crawlers’ and ‘data-gatherers’ should stick to UK copyright law

Peers voted 145 to 126, majority 19, in favour of a package of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill

Peers voted 145 to 126, majority 19, in favour of a package of amendments to the Data (Use and Access) Bill

‘The Government are doing this not because the current law does not protect intellectual property rights, nor because they do not understand the devastation it will cause, but because they are hooked on the delusion that the UK’s best interests and economic future align with those of Silicon Valley.

‘Ministers choosing to mirror the tech lobbyist language of uncertainty rather than defending the property rights of citizens and wealth creators is bewildering.’

Her amendments were backed by Sir Elton John and Paul McCartney. Sir Elton said last week: ‘The wheels are in motion to allow AI companies to ride roughshod over the traditional copyright laws that protect artists’ livelihoods. 

‘This will allow global big tech companies to gain free and easy access to artists’ work in order to train their artificial intelligence and create competing music. 

‘This will dilute and threaten young artists’ earnings even further. 

‘The musician community rejects it wholeheartedly.’