UK comic book giants join forces to tackle threat of AI
It comes amid Government proposals to change UK copyright law to allow AI models to be more easily trained on copyrighted material.
Publishers behind UK comics, including The Beano, are among the founding members of a new trade association hoping to tackle threats posed by generative AI.
Comic Book UK has been formed to play a key part in the Government’s industrial strategy and drive growth in the country’s comic book industry.
It comes following a Government consultation that included proposals that would allow tech firms to use copyrighted material from creatives and publishers without having to pay, gain a licence, or reimburse creatives for using their work.
It has been widely condemned by high-profile figures in the creative sector, including musicians such as Sir Elton John, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney and Kate Bush, who say the Government’s plans to make it easier for AI models to be trained on copyrighted material amount to the theft of music and will severely affect the sector.
In February, the Prime Minister said responses to a consultation on the proposals were being reviewed.
Powerful AI models need large amounts of data to be trained on to produce the responses seen in their final products, with many having already used data lifted from the open web to train their models.
Comic Book UK said it is looking to play “a constructive role in debates around regulation of generative AI, ensuring that the value of UK comic companies’ intellectual property is maintained within a regime that supports innovation”.
Alongside The Beano publisher DC Thomson, the association’s founding members include graphic novel publisher Avery Hill Publishing and drama production house B7 Media.
Mark Fuller, Comic Book UK chief executive, said: “Comics are one of the jewels in the crown of the UK’s creative industries and there is enormous untapped potential for further growth.
“We have the creative talent and business base to become a global comics superpower, with UK companies growing and expanding their reach into new territories alongside inward investment from the huge North American, Asian Pacific and European comic industries.
Creative industries minister, Sir Chris Bryant, said: “With an edgy history from Punch to 2000 AD, British comics and cartooning entertain millions globally as part of our £11 billion publishing sector, rightly earning their place and undeniable influence among the best of the UK’s creative industries.
“It is only right that comics have their own advocate to help champion and unlock more investment in this innovative sector.
“I look forward to working with Comic Book UK as we develop our plan to boost our growth-driving industries even further.”
Further members of Comic Book UK will be announced over the coming months, including a range of independent UK comic publishers.
