AI and copyright – why do UK industry bodies re-cycle discredited claims when even the US authorities disagree?

The UK Government House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee’s Inquiry on AI and Copyright heard evidence from tech industry bodies this month in an hour-long evidential session. Unlike previous hearings in the ongoing Inquiry - see my other reports passim - this one was marred by its occasionally fractious tone, with Chair Baroness Keeley appearing to grow impatient with answers that sought to explain concepts that peers were already familiar with.

However, what was most notable about the session was that while representatives of the media and creative communities have provided original insights and fresh perspectives on this divisive issue – searching for the key, perhaps, to unlock the debate in their favour – speakers at this session did not. Instead, they largely rehashed a number of broad-stroke arguments, most of which have long been discredited – including by the Committee in its Large Language Model Inquiry report last year (see diginomica, passim ...