The letter to the Prime Minister and full list of signatories can be found in the annex below this Press Release.

Over 400 top creatives, media and creative business leaders, and creative businesses have written to the Prime Minister, urging him to give Government support to proposals that would protect copyright in the age of AI. This comes ahead of a crunch vote on the plans in the House of Lords on Monday 12^th May.

Signatories to the letter represent a who’s who across the creative industries, and include

Elton John, David Furnish, Paul McCartney, Florence Welch, Kate Bush, Coldplay, 

Antonia Fraser, Tom Stoppard, Richard Curtis, Ian McKellen, Kazuo Ishiguro, Moira Buffini, Russell T Davies, Rachel Whiteread, Shirley Bassey,  Antony Gormley, Emily Eavis, Tom Dixon, John Pawson, Justine Roberts, amid hundreds of others.

The letter warns:

“We will lose an immense growth opportunity if we give our work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies and with it our future income, the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse, and any hope that the technology of daily life will embody the values and laws of the United Kingdom.”

The letter calls on Sir Keir Starmer to back Baroness Beeban Kidron’s amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which would give the UK creative industries urgently needed transparency over the copyright works ingested by AI models. This transparency would allow creators and creative businesses to hold AI firms accountable for the mass theft of creative works that continues to take place.

The letter, which has also been signed by Oliver Sim, Simon Rattle, Nicholas Hytner, Jimmy McGovern, Lucy Kirkwood, Dua Lipa, Alan Ayckbourn, and scores of business leaders and award-winning artists, tells the Prime Minister:

“The first job of any government is to protect its citizens. So, we urge His Majesty’s Government to accept the Lords Amendments in the name of Baroness Kidron that put transparency at the heart of the copyright regime and allow both AI developers and creators to develop licensing regimes that will allow for human-created content well into the future.  These amendments recognise the crucial role that creative content plays in the development of generative AI. They will spur a dynamic licensing market that will enhance the role of human creativity in the UK, positioning us as a key player in the global AI supply chain.”

The amendments have been tabled ahead of the first day of ‘Ping Pong’ in the Lords, where provisions that would make copyright law enforceable were passionately supported on a cross-party basis earlier this year.  The amendment creates a requirement for AI firms to tell copyright owners which individual works they have ingested. Copyright law is not broken, but you can’t enforce the law if you can’t see the crime taking place.   Transparency requirements would make the risk of infringement too great for AI firms to continue to break the law.

Baroness Kidron said:

“The creative industries welcome the new frontier of creativity offered by advances in AI, but how AI is developed and who it benefits are two of the most important questions of our time.  

“The UK creative industries reflect our national stories, drive tourism, create wealth for the nation and provide 2.4 million jobs across our four nations. They must not be sacrificed to the interests of a handful of US tech companies.  Nor should we underestimate the role of human creativity in the joy of being human nor the need for common facts to cement our collective experience.

“The UK is in a unique position to take its place a global player in the international AI supply chain, but to grasp that opportunity requires the transparency provided for in my amendments, which are essential to create a vibrant licencing market.

I am grateful to the extraordinary list of signatories to today’s letter to the Prime Minister. Behind them stands the thousands of technicians, roadies, agents, costumers, make up, set designers, production and post-production staff, subeditors, and many more who make their work possible. Today they are raising their voice for all those who make the UK an economic powerhouse of creativity and innovation. Most importantly, they are speaking out to ensure a positive future for the next generation of creators and innovators.”

Government amendments requiring an economic impact assessment and reports on the feasibility of an ‘opt-out’ copyright regime and transparency requirements do not meet the moment, but simply leave creators open to years of copyright theft.

Lord Brennan of Canton, former MP and Labour Peer, said:  

“We cannot let mass copyright theft inflict damage on our economy for years to come. Transparency over AI inputs will unlock tremendous economic growth, positioning the UK as the premier market for the burgeoning trade in high-quality AI training data. If the government cannot accept Baroness Kidron’s amendments, I urge them to introduce provisions which will allow transparency measures to be developed in months, not years. It is never ‘too soon’ to protect millions of workers and defend our national interest.”

Lord Black of Brentwood, a Conservative Peer, said:

“The Government amendments set us on a timeline that will not see any transparency provisions introduced until the very tail end of this Parliament at the earliest. Opt-out solutions simply do not exist, and the Government must not rush into a rash decision on copyright law, but transparency is feasible and necessary now. Rather than leaving creative and media businesses defenceless for years to come, transparency will protect UK citizens’ property rights against Big Tech and kickstart a highly lucrative UK market for AI training data.”

Lord Clement-Jones, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Science, Innovation and Technology in the Lords, said:

“Transparency isn’t just an ethical obligation – it’s the foundation for a vibrant licensing system where creators are respected and compensated. When AI developers acknowledge copyright through clear licensing frameworks, both innovation and creativity can flourish side by side. This dynamic marketplace doesn’t hinder progress but accelerates it, transforming potential conflict into collaboration and shared prosperity between our creative and tech sectors.”

Annex: Full letter to the Prime Minister and list of signatories

Dear Prime Minister,

Creative copyright is the lifeblood of the creative industries. It recognises the moral authority we have over our work and provides an income stream for 2.4 million people across the four nations of the United Kingdom. The fight to defend our creative industries has been joined by scores of UK businesses, including those who use and develop AI.  

We are not against progress or innovation. The creative industries have always been early adopters of technology. Indeed, many of the world’s greatest inventions, from the lightbulb to AI itself, have been a result of UK creative minds grappling with technology.

We are wealth creators, we reflect and promote the national stories, we are the innovators of the future, and AI needs us as much as it needs energy and computer skills. We will lose an immense growth opportunity if we give our work away at the behest of a handful of powerful overseas tech companies and with it our future income, the UK’s position as a creative powerhouse, and any hope that the technology of daily life will embody the values and laws of the United Kingdom.

The first job of any government is to protect its citizens. So, we urge His Majesty’s Government to accept the Lords Amendments in the name of Baroness Kidron that put transparency at the heart of the copyright regime and allow both AI developers and creators to develop licensing regimes that will allow for human-created content well into the future.  These amendments recognise the crucial role that creative content plays in the development of generative AI. They will spur a dynamic licensing market that will enhance the role of human creativity in the UK, positioning us as a key player in the global AI supply chain.

To parliamentarians on all sides of the political spectrum and in both Houses, we urge you to vote in support of the UK creative industries. Supporting us supports the creators of the future.  Our work is not yours to give away.

Signed:

MUSIC

Elton John

David Furnish

Paul McCartney

Coldpay

Kate Bush

Annie Lennox

Jamie Cullum

Tom Jones

Eric Clapton

Shirley Bassey

Florence Welch

Dua Lipa

Mark Ronson

Alfie Boe

Sting 

Jessie Ware

WRITERS, THEATRE & FILM

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Cameron Mackintosh 

Ian McKellen

Kazuo Ishiguro

Tom Stoppard

Richard Curtis

Martin McDonagh

Jack Thorne

Jeanette Winterson

Michael Rosen

Paloma Faith

Robbie Williams

Lucian Grainge

Pete Townshend

Olly Thornton

Kit Connor

Tony Marnach (DJ Fat

Tony)

Giles Martin

Wretch32

Patrick Woodroffe

Rod Argent

Dickon Stainer

Barrie Marshall

Nickie Owen

Laura Snapes

Simon Rattle

Mark Antony Turnage

Russell T Davies

Richard Eyre 

Pippa Harris

Alan Ayckbourn

Michael Frayn

David Hare

Patrick Marber

Stephen Daldry

Joe Murphy

Joe Robertson Lee Hall

Richard Jones

David Lan

Edward Gardner

Emily Eavis

Rachel Fuller

Oliver Sim

Dukagjin Lipa

Gia Ford

Sam Pattinson

Jonathan Freeman-

Atwood

Kirsty Macdonald

Paul Dugdale

Ed Newton-Rex

Jamie Wilson

Bob Harris

Mike Batt

Tom Speight

Amy Love

Georgia South

Hugh Grant                    

Matthew Warchus

Rupert Goold

Ian Rickson

Antonia Fraser

Steven Knight

Donald Passman

J. Eugene Saloman Jr.

Pawel Pawlikowski 

Nicholas Hytner 

Susie Orbach

Hannah Rothschild

Denise Swanson

Jimmy McGovern Allan Cubitt Tony Schumacher Simon Beaufoy Catherine Mayer Natalie Abrahami Pat Barker April de Angelis Richard Bean Alecky Blythe Danny Brocklehurst Moira Buffini Eleanor Catton Carrie Cracknell Tinuke Craig Adam Cork Tom Edge Nadia Fall Johnny Flynn Christopher Hampton Dennis Kelly Kelly Marcel Stephen Poliakoff Sarah Phelps Ben Power Simon Stephens Caleb Azumah Nelson Iqbal Khan Lucy Kirkwood Isobel McArthur Lolita Chakrabati Frank Spotnitz Mark Rosenblatt Karen Kelly Alexander Jacob Marion Milne Carolyn Saunders Peter Strachan Delyth Thomas Vicki Kisner Ruth Carney Paul Tanter Lotus Hannon Ellie Brent David Tucker Bob Tomson Emma Lindley

Matthew Evans Michael Lacey Gill Wilkinson Ade Bean Owen Tooth Will Brenton Leon Lopez Phoebe Barran Emma Bridgeman- Williams Chantelle Kayll Aashish Gadhvi Penelope Shales-Slyne Martin Gooch Eleri B. Jones Becky Wild Steve Hughes Audrey O’Reilly Jamie Annett Emma Reynolds Debbie Howard Judith Dine Conor Morrissey Bim Ajadi David Hayman Jr David Beauchamp Sofia Olins Kirsty Robinson-Ward Atem Kuol Dominic Stephenson Bill Buckhurst Sarah Kendell Aurora Fearnley Sunnie Sidhu Marcus Lee Charlotte Conquest Abe Juckes Alan de Pellette Neil Wilkinson Kodjo Tsakpo Tim Courtney David Kester Katie Fenton-Green Suri Krishnamma Richard Lynn Sean Glynn

Miranda HowardWilliams Merlyn Rice David Innes Edwards Tim Finn Tim O’Mara Christopher McGill Diana Patrick David Crowley Thomas Hescott Vicky Thomas Jason Wingard Cóilín Ó Scolaí Dominic Keavey Sarah Esdaile Indra Bhose Matt Hilton Seán Healy Paul Riordan Tim Royle Yaz Al-Shaater Paul Romero Mendez Lee Trevor Eddy Marshall Duncan Foster Khurrum M. Sultan Daniel Wilson Amy Coop Karl Neilson Brett Fallis Paul Gibson Dermot Boyd Nickie Lister Audrey Cooke Miguel Guerreiro Samantha Harrie Nicole Charles Menhaj Huda Stephen Gallacher Matthias Hoene Ian Aryeh Nirpal Bhogal Lisa Gunning Rebecca Rycroft Laura Scrivano Sean Glynn Mahalia Belo

James Krishna Floyd Debs Paterson Tinge Krishnan Darcia Martin Rita Osei Sally El Hosaini

Alex Kalymnios Chloë Thomas AJ Sykes Sally Wainright Jermain Julien Georgia Parris

Mo Ali Candida Scott Knight   Joshua Reeves Carys Lewis Sheridan De Meyrs

Antony Gormley Vicken Parsons Rachel Whiteread Mark Wallinger Cornelia Parker  Ben Kelly Emily King David Chipperfield  Amanda Levete  Tim Marlow  Ben Evans  Kim Colin  Sam Hecht  Philip Gumuchdjian  Jane Withers John Pawson

Sebastian Conran  Malcolm Garrett  Michael Anastassiades  Marc Newson  Alice Rawsthorn  Stafford Schmool Deyan Sudjic  Doshi Levien Design Studio Caruso St John Architects Dids MacDonald  Robin Levien  Matthew Hilton  Jasper Morrison  Sam Hecht

Tom Dixon  Mark Farrow Ed Carpenter  Terence Woodgate  Tom Lloyd  André Klauser  Michael Marriott  Sheridan Coakley  Huw Morgan, Graphic Thought Facility Tomoko Azumi  Edward Barber  Jay Osgerby  John Tree Anish Kapoor

ARTISTS & DESIGNERS

MEDIA

Ted Verity, Editor, Mail Newspapers

John Ridding, CEO, Financial Times

Peter Wright, Editor Emeritus, DMG Media

Anna Jones, CEO, Telegraph Media Group

John McLellan, Director, Newsbrands Scotland

Owen Meredith, Chief Executive, News Media Association

Justine Roberts, CEO and Founder, Mumsnet

Chris Dicker, CEO, Candr Media Group

Zahra Shah, AI Journal

National Union of Journalists

NLA Media Access 

560 Media Rights

Anthony Cond, President, Association of University Presses and Chief Executive,

Liverpool University Press

Gary Shipton, Editor in Chief, National World

Mark Fuller, Chief Executive, Comic Book UK

Paul Connew, commentator, columnist, author and former national newspaper editor ARTS ORGANISATIONS

Tim Major, Co-Managing Director UK, Sony Music Publishing  

Antony Bebawi, President, Global Digital, Sony Music Publishing 

David Ventura, Co-Managing Director UK, Sony Music Publishing 

Mark Getty, Co-Founder & Chair, Getty Images

Hannah Essex, Co-CEO, Society of London Theatre & UK Theatre

Universal Music Publishing Group

The Associated Press

The Old Vic

Young Vic

National Theatre

English National Ballet

Royal Shakespeare Company

Sadlers Wells

Shakespeare’s Globe

Southbank Centre

Birmingham Royal Ballet

Bristol Old Vic

Britten Pears Arts

Donmar Warehouse

Edinburgh International Festival

English Touring Opera

Garsington Opera

Glyndebourne

Northern Ballet

Opera North

Rambert

Royal Ballet and Opera

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

St Georges Bristol

The Lowry

Tiata Fahodzi

Warwick Arts Centre

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Mark Moran, Managing Editor, Landor LINKS Ltd

David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition

Crispin Hunt, President, PRS Members’ Council

Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu 

Christian Zimmermann, CEO, DACS 

Mat Pfleger, CEO, Copyright Licensing Agency

Andy Harrower, Chief Executive, Directors UK

Paul W Fleming, General Secretary, Equity

Piers North, CEO, Reach plc

John McVay, CEO, Pact

Sajeeda Merali, CEO, PPA

Angela Mills Wade, Executive Director, European Publishers Council Tayyiba Nasser, CEO, British Equity Collecting Society

Joanna Prior, CEO, Pan Macmillan 

Jon Westbrook, Co-Founder, Independent Publishers Alliance

Paul Seheult, Chief Executive, PICSEL

Isabelle Doran FRSA, CEO, Association of Photographers; Vice Chair, Creators Rights Alliance

Richard Reeves, CEO, AOP (Association of online publishers)

Stephanie Reeves, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, British Copyright Council 

Darren Toogood, Editor/Publisher, Island Echo Ltd

ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers) 

BAPLA (British Association of Picture Libraries & Agencies)

Association of Authors’ Agents 

Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru / Welsh Independent Producers (TAC)

The Association of Independent Music Publishing Scotland

The Society of Artists’ (Illustrators’) Agents

Audrey Lim, Head of Engineering, Hivekind

Ben Woollams, CEO, TrueRight

Hester Bates, Marketing, TrueRight

Asa Burrows, CEO & Founder, SKC Games Studio

Babita Devi, CCO, SKC Games Studio

Deborah Annetts, Chief Executive, Independent Society of Musicians 

Newry.ie

Association of Illustrators 

Ellie Peers, General Secretary, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain

Artists’ Collecting Society (ACS) 

Dawn Alford, CEO, Society of Editors

Anna Ganley, Chief Executive, Society of Authors

Mike Glover, Media Consultant

Roberto Neri, CEO, The Ivors Academy

Luke Allcott, Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society and CRA Board

Rachel Hill, Association of Illustrators and CRA Board

Mike Holderness, National Union of Journalists and CRA Board

Ellie Peers, Writers Guild of Great Britain and CRA Board

Tom Peters, Equity and CRA Board

Jessica Craig, Musicians Union and CRA Board

Rachel Buswell, Head of Digital Partnerships & Analytics, Domino Recording Co.

Junior Foster, Head of Digital Partnerships, Because Music

Alexis Metaoui, Chief Digital Officer, Because Music

Jeremy Lascelles, CEO, Chrysalis Records / Blue Raincoat Music

 Toby Egekwu, Label & Publishing Exec, Finesse Foreva / Sentric Music

Dr Jo Twist OBE, chief executive, BPI 

 ALCS 

Publishers’ Licensing Services (PLS)

The Music Publishers Association

Tony Harlow, Chief Executive Officer, Warner Music UK

Jason Iley MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland Tami Hoffman, Guardian

Huda Ali, Guardian

Dominic Cooper, Chief Executive, CIoJ

Alistair Norbury, President – UK, Europe & APAC, BMG

Sophie Jones, Chief Strategy Officer, BPI

Femi Olasehinde, Director, Just Another Label and BPI Council

Pat Carr, CEO & Founder, Remote Control Agency and BPI Council

YolanDa Brown, artist, broadcaster and BPI Chair

Victoria Oakley, CEO, IFPI

Alastair Lloyd-Webber, Co-Founder & CEO, The Other Songs 

Billy Lloyd-Webber, Co-Founder, The Other Songs 

Ben Kerr, CEO, Cold Glass Productions 

Rupert King, Manager, Blue Raincoat Music

Pru Harris, Managing Director, Marathon Music Group

Mark Lippmann, Managing Director, Scruff of the Neck Records