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Pan Macmillan welcomes government decision to move away from copyright exception for AI training

Pan Macmillan today welcomes the UK government’s decision to scrap a proposed copyright exception for AI training, calling it a "positive step forward" for authors and the wider creative community.

The government’s Copyright and Artificial Intelligence report, published today (March 18), confirms a move away from previous proposals that would have allowed AI developers to train their models on creative works without seeking permission or providing compensation.

This shift follows months of intensive advocacy from across the publishing and creative sectors.

‘While there is still a long road ahead as the government embarks on further research and consultation, this is a positive step towards ensuring that human creativity is valued and protected in the age of AI.’

Pan Macmillan has played a key part in this effort, working closely with industry bodies to ensure the protection of intellectual property. As active members of the Creative Rights in AI Coalition (CRAIC) and Publishers Association (PA) AI Taskforce, the publisher has consistently lobbied against any softening of the current copyright regime.

Sara Lloyd, Global AI Lead at Pan Macmillan, who has led the company’s direct advocacy through regular meetings with MPs and Peers, commented:

"This is significant news and a testament to the work of the Publishers Association’s (PA) AI Taskforce, the Creative Rights in AI Coalition (CRAIC) and The Society of Authors - as well as our brilliant authors, who have lent their support to our campaigning. We are proud of the role Pan Macmillan has played in advocating for this outcome through our direct engagement with policymakers and our contributions to the government's consultation.

“While there is still a long road ahead as the government embarks on further research and consultation, this is a positive step towards ensuring that human creativity is valued and protected in the age of AI."

The announcement comes on the heels of the "Don’t Steal This Book" campaign, launched during the London Book Fair by Ed Newton-Rex and the Publishers Association. Supported by Pan Macmillan and over 9,800 authors - including Ann Cleeves, Julia Donaldson, David Olusoga, Peter James, Sathnam Sanghera and Lucy Jane Wood - the campaign featured a "blank book" to visually represent a literary landscape stripped of human creativity by unauthorised AI training.

Pan Macmillan remains committed to supporting its creators and will continue to coordinate with industry partners to ensure robust, long-term copyright protections remain a government priority.