DACS speaks at joint APPG meeting on Copyright and AI
As joint secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Visual Arts and Artists, DACS was invited to present at a joint meeting held this week on the ongoing copyright and artificial intelligence (AI) consultation.
DACS was one of a number of organisations invited to present at a joint meeting of All-Party Groups representing creators and rightsholders. Led by the APPG for IP, the session sought industry perspectives on the consultation, in particular the workability of the Government’s proposed ‘rights reservation’ approach and transparency requirements.
Highlighting the specific challenges faced by visual artists in protecting their content, Reema Selhi, DACS’ Head of Policy and International, said:
The latest data on artists’ earnings show that they earn £12,500 a year, far below the median wage, and that artists rely on portfolio earnings, including royalties to sustain their work and practice. Importantly, a majority of artists also rely on having an online presence as a way to build their reputation, seek new commissions, and sell their work.
These two things are vital: we need a strong copyright framework that gives artists fair recompense for their work, and a safe online environment that centers around control of content.
The opt out provisions we’re talking about today are in danger of hampering both.
Head of Policy and International, DACS
In attendance at the session were Chairs and Officers of the All-Party Parliamentary Groups for:
- Intellectual Property
- Visual Arts and Artists
- Music
- Writers
- Publishing
- Media
DACS is the joint secretariat of the APPG for Visual Arts and Artists, with a-n the Artists' Information Company and CVAN.
DACS will be providing a response to the Government’s Open Consultation on copyright and Artificial Intelligence, which was announced on 17th December 2024, drawing on concerns raised in our AI & Artists Report. The report showed that the overwhelming majority of visual artists want to decide if their work can be used for AI training, whilst showing a willingness to consent to such uses, provided that regulation and compensation mechanisms are in place to ensure that their rights are respected.
We believe that consent, control and remuneration for Intellectual Property (IP) rights should be central to the UK’s goals for AI development and that the onus should not be on rights holders to prevent AI firms from commercially exploiting their data without permission or remuneration.
Any solution in the UK must enable artists to effectively and easily exercise their rights and receive fair compensation for the use of their work.
Read more
- How DACS advocates for artists' rights
- The first APPG for Visual Arts and Artists meeting in 2025 explored artists' fair pay
