The UK government is actively seeking to address concerns raised by peers and Labour backbenchers regarding proposed copyright legislation that permits artificial intelligence companies to utilize copyrighted work for training their models without prior consent from rights holders, unless they choose to opt out.

Prominent figures in the creative sector, including musicians Sir Paul McCartney, playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, and singer Kate Bush, have publicly criticized the government's proposals.

These creative professionals argue that such measures could undermine their rights and revenue streams.

Their objections have resonated with members of the House of Lords, who have amended the proposed bill in response, as well as with several backbench Members of Parliament.

In an effort to facilitate the passage of the legislation, the government has offered concessions, including the promise of an economic impact assessment.

This report is expected to explore various issues, such as the methods employed by AI developers to access data for model training and the levels of transparency concerning the use of copyright-protected works.

Ministers are optimistic that these concessions will allow the data use and access bill, currently under scrutiny, to advance through parliament.

However, the bill has encountered a challenging legislative phase known as "ping pong," where it is exchanged back and forth between the House of Lords and the House of Commons as amendments are introduced and debated.

The government's outreach efforts were initially reported by various media outlets.

Cross-bench peer Beeban Kidron, who successfully introduced amendments to protect the interests of copyright holders, lamented that the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology appears to prioritize the interests of the US tech industry.

Kidron's amendments aimed at enhancing transparency, allowing copyright owners to monitor the usage of their works in AI systems, remain key elements of the ongoing debate.

She indicated that these measures would provide UK-based copyright holders with increased tools to safeguard their rights.

James Frith, a Labour member of the culture, media and sport committee, expressed cautious optimism regarding the government's willingness to engage in dialogue on the matter.

He emphasized the need for complete transparency in the use of copyrighted materials and insisted that companies using such content should provide adequate compensation.

Frith raised questions about the rationale behind claims that AI companies are impeded by copyright requirements or financial obligations related to content usage.

A spokesperson for the government stated that no final decisions on the proposals have been made.

They affirmed that the government is carefully considering the feedback received during consultations while engaging with tech industries and creative sectors to refine their approach.

The government has indicated that it intends to publish its response to the consultation on these proposals during the summer or by October.