Policy Download – June 2025

Government Rejects AI Transparency Measures in Final Data Bill 

The Data Use and Access Bill has received Royal Assent without the inclusion of transparency provisions for AI developers. Amendments proposing data transparency obligations were rejected in the House of Commons by 304 votes to 189. 

In response to continued concerns raised in the House of Lords and by the creative industries, the government has committed to three follow-up actions: 

• New reporting requirements will be introduced, addressing how models trained overseas are handled and how transparency obligations are enforced. 

• Accelerated publication timelines for the economic impact assessment and related reports, now due within nine months rather than the originally stated twelve. 

• A statutory requirement for the Secretary of State to provide a progress update to Parliament within six months of Royal Assent.

The Creative Industries minister reiterated that the Data Bill will not alter the enforcement of existing copyright law. He also reiterated that copyright and AI-related issues would be addressed separately through the Copyright and AI consultation. 

While the MPA recognised from the outset that passing the transparency amendments would be difficult, the campaign served as a strategic platform to raise the profile of our position and build both public and parliamentary momentum.  

Through the campaign, we have been able to: 

• Secure additional meetings with the government and shadow ministers 

• Strengthen industry collaboration through the Creative Rights in AI Coalition 

• Expand parliamentary engagement and support 

• Raise public awareness through media coverage and parliamentary questions 

These efforts are already shifting the government’s narrative. The government has now publicly distanced itself from its previous preference for an “opt-out” model, stating that no preferred option is currently on the table. Both the minister and the Secretary of State have acknowledged that action is necessary, clearly signalling that inaction is no longer viable. The MPA will continue to drive this agenda forward, building on the progress made. 

UK–India Free Trade Agreement: Intellectual Property Chapter Agreed 

The UK and India have reached an agreement on a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which includes a dedicated chapter on intellectual property (IP). While the full text has yet to be published, we expect the IP provisions to broadly reflect existing international commitments, particularly those under the WIPO Internet Treaties (1996) and the TRIPS Agreement (1994). 

From a lobbying standpoint, it was always unlikely that the FTA would directly address sector-specific priorities for the music industry, such as:  

• Equitable remuneration for performers 

• Broadcast payments to publishers 

• Opposition to mandatory licensing models for music streaming services 

There have also been several recent positive developments in India, where the courts have: 

• Confirmed the rights of music publishers, and 

• Removed government-issued guidelines on mandatory licensing for music streaming (under Section 31D). 

These rulings represent a significant step forward and reflect growing alignment on key copyright principles. 

Importantly, the FTA includes references to existing rights, meaning their exercise may now fall under the bilateral dispute resolution mechanism between the UK and India, a process that is often more efficient and responsive than the WTO’s equivalent. The agreement also provides a framework for ongoing bilateral engagement, with working groups established to discuss more detailed implementation issues, including in the IP space. 

As part of this process, the MPA will continue to engage with UK civil servants to ensure our sector’s priorities are well understood and reflected in future discussions. We will keep members updated as the final text becomes available and as further details emerge regarding the implementation phase. 

On the move:  

• Chief Policy Officer Ornella Akanga (OA)was at SXSW London, attending various events, talks and panels across the week. 

• OA attended a call with Baroness Kidron to discuss how the industry can maintain the momentum gathered during the Data Bill to prevent the government from weakening copyright laws in favour of generative AI development 

• OA attended a dinner with several Conservative MPs, including Lord Parkinson, Gagan Mohindra MP, Richard Holden MP, Baroness Ruth Porter and Lord Neil Mendoza, to discuss emerging issues in the UK music industry. 

• OA attended a meeting in parliament to discuss the use of music lyrics as an evidence tool to secure convictions in joint enterprise and conspiracy cases. While in parliament, she caught up with Nadia Whittome MP, Kim Johnson MP and Lord Watson. 

• OA attended a meeting with the Department for Business and Trade to discuss the UK’s ongoing trade negotiations and the recently established trade deal with India. 

• OA attended a publishing roundtable with Getty Images to hear lessons from their legal case with Stability AI.