Elton John and Dua Lipa are looking for protection against AI

Dua Lipa, Sir Elton John, Sir Ian McKellen and Florence Welch belong to a list of stars calling on the prime minister to update copyright laws in a way that protects them against artificial intelligence.

A letter signed by more than 400 British musicians, writers and artists, addressed to Sir Keir Starmer, says it would not give that protection would mean that they “give away” their work to technology companies.

Also in danger, they write, is “the position of the UK as a creative powerhouse”.

They want the PM to stop a change in data for data (use and access) for which developers would be transparent with copyright owners about the use of their material to train AI models.

A government spokesperson said: “We want our creative industries and AI companies to flourish, and that is why we consult on a package of measures that we hope will work for both sectors.

“We are clear that no changes are being considered, unless we are completely satisfied that they work for makers,” they added.

Other signatories are author Kazuo Ishiguro, playwright David Hare, singers Kate Bush and Robbie Williams, as well as Coldplay, Tom Stoppard and Richard Curtis.

Sir Paul McCartney, who told the BBC in January He was worried about AI who struck artistsAlso signed the letter.

“We are wealth -makers, we reflect and promote the national stories, we are the innovators of the future, and AI needs us as much as energy and computer skills,” it said.

They say that their concerns can be met if the government supports a change proposed by Baroness Begeban Kidron prior to an important vote in the House of Lords on Monday.

The amendment of Baroness Kidron, it says, “would allow both AI developers and makers to develop license regimes that make people created far into the future.”

Not everyone agrees with the approach of the artists.

Julia Willemyns, co-founder of the Center for British Progress Think Tank, said that such proposals can hinder the UK and his bid for growth.

The measures would “do nothing to prevent foreign companies from using the content of the British creative industries,” she told the BBC.

“A restrictive copyright regime would immediately harm AI development offshore, the domestic innovation and the British economy immediately,” she said.

However, the letter comes in the midst of the increasing concern of artists about the absorption of their works and material protected by copyright, in the data used to develop generative AI systems.

These tools, which can produce new content in response to simple text prompts, have become increasingly popular and available to consumers.

But their possibilities are accompanied by worries and criticism of their data use and energy demand.

In February, artists such as Annie Lennox and Damon Albarn released a quiet album to protest on the proposed changes of the government in copyright legislation.

The government has carried out a consultation on its proposal to enable developers to use the content of makers on the internet to help develop their models, unless the rights holders choose to “unsubscribe”.

According to the Guardian, the ministers reconsider the proposal After the backlash of the maker.

Ishiguro pointed to the BBC on an earlier statement in which he wrote: “Why is it just and honest – why is it wise – to change our ancient copyright laws in favor of mammoth companies at the expense of individual writers, musicians, filmmakers and artists?”

The Nobel Prize-winning author added that since then the only limited advance was that it now seemed that the government had accepted that the opt-out proposals would probably not be workable, he thought a new consultation to find a fairer schedule was possible, although it had to be seen how meaningful a consultation would be.

“It is essential that they have this right,” he wrote.

MPs recently rejected a separate amendment by Baroness Kidron that AI developers was responsible for the British copyright legislation.

Now she says that transparency obligations for technology companies under the new proposed change can support the development of license agreements between makers and companies.

“The UK is in a unique position to take its place as a worldwide player in the international AI -Supply Chain, but to understand that opportunity requires the transparency that is provided in my changes that are essential to create a lively license market,” said Baroness Kidron.

In their statement, the government said: “It is vital that we take the time to go through the reach of answers to our consultation, but just as important that we have now set the basis if we consider the following steps.

“That is why we promised to publish a report and economic impact assessment – exploring the wide range of issues and options on all sides of the debate.”