APPG for Intellectual Property Roundtable

The day began with a roundtable hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Intellectual Property in the Jubilee Room at the House of Commons.

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Chaired by Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP,

Chair of the APPG for Intellectual Property, the session explored how direct and

collective licensing solutions can help ensure that AI works for the creative sector.

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Kanishka Narayan MP, Minister for AI and Online Safety, addressed the

roundtable and outlined the Government’s approach to licensing and the

relationship between AI development and the UK’s creative industries.

Industry speakers included:

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• Theo Bamber, Chief Executive, News Media Association

• Beth Sidwell, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, British Phonographic Industry

• Caroline Cummins, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Publishers Association

• Will Crook, Head of Policy and Communications, Publishers’ Licensing Services

• Richard Combes, Head of Rights and Licensing

       and Deputy Chief Executive, Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society

• Daniel Guthrie, Director General, Alliance for Intellectual Property

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Speakers shared perspectives from the news, music, publishing and writing sectors, including examples of emerging agreements between rightsholders and AI developers. They also considered the policy conditions needed to support a growing and sustainable licensing market.

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The discussion highlighted how direct licensing arrangements are evolving, as well as how collective licensing can simplify permissions at scale particularly where individual creators or rightsholders may not be in a position to negotiate directly with AI companies. ​Emphasis was placed on the importance of greater transparency from AI developers about the works used to train, fine-tune or ground their systems. This information is essential if licences are to be requested, monitored, enforced and trusted.

 

​Parliamentary Reception

The day ended with our annual Parliamentary reception, hosted by Sir John Whittingdale MP OBE and kindly co-sponsored by PLS and ALCS. Taking place on the terrace of the House of Commons, the reception brought together key members of the IP community including rightsholders, industry representatives, creators, government officials and parliamentarians.

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Guests heard from James Frith MP, Minister for Digital ID alongside:

• Sophie Jones, Chair of the Alliance for Intellectual Property and Chief Strategy Officer at the BPI

• Sir John Whittingdale OBE MP, Chair of the APPG for Intellectual Property

• Tom West, Chief Executive of Publishers’ Licensing Services

• Barbara Hayes, Executive Director and Chief Executive of the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society

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The speakers reflected on the economic and cultural importance of the UK’s world-leading creative industries and the fundamental role that intellectual property plays in sustaining them. They also highlighted the opportunity presented by responsible AI development, provided that innovation is underpinned by consent, transparency and fair remuneration for the creators and rightsholders whose work makes AI products possible.

 

​​​​​​​​​​About the Alliance

The Alliance for Intellectual Property is a unique coalition of 23 organisations representing IP-rich businesses and creators. Our members include representatives of the publishing, image, art, design, retailing, audiovisual, music, toy and games, business software, branded manufactured goods and sport rights sectors. They share a collective interest in ensuring that IP rights are valued in the UK and across the globe, and that a strong legislative and regulatory regime exists to protect them.​

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