DECaDE with CoSTAR National Lab plots way out of AI and Copyright Cul de-sac for the UK’s Creative Sector.

A ground-breaking report released today by CoSTAR National R&D Lab - of which DECaDE is a partner - aims to provide creative industries and AI developers with a framework to guide them through challenges around content usage, rights and remuneration in the age of generative AI.

Led by industry and academic experts, including DECaDE Director Professor John Collmosse the report ‘Time to ACCCT: Providing Creative Industries and AI Developers with a Copyright Framework of Access, Control, Consent, Compensation and Transparency’ was produced in consultation with over 20 leading creative rights holders and AI Developers. The report sets out a framework that would enable a machine-readable, publicly available approach for copyright holders to either consent or protect their work from data and text mining, whilst also allowing AI companies to legally access data.

As generative AI continues to reshape the creative industries, this framework offers practical, technical and rights-respecting guidance towards developing a fair and ethical future system for the use of creative work.

The report comes amid growing legal and ethical concerns about the use of copyrighted materials in generative AI, with artists, authors, musicians, and other creators rallying against a proposed ‘opt out’ approach to text and data mining. At the same time, to encourage AI developers to base and grow their businesses in the UK, developers are seeking clearer, more consistent guidance and tools for lawful and responsible data usage. The ACCCT framework points to a route out of the current impasse that is not benefiting either side by looking at the technological, trust and legal framework that would be required to create shared interests and retain continuity with three centuries of copyright protection.

Whilst not offering a complete solution, the report maps out key components that are required to create a new balance between rights holders and AI aggregators, including tools, control mechanisms, attribution, standards and regulation. The report offers a clear road map to what technologies are available today, what might be available tomorrow and what lies further ahead.

Sir Peter Bazalgette, co-chair of the Creative Industries Council said:

Our partnership with the CoSTAR Network combines DECaDE’s leading academic research on media provenance with state of the art facilities, technology research and industry and academic partnerships to fuel creative growth across the UK. John Collomosse, Director of DECaDE commented;

Find out more about the CoSTAR network.

View and download the full report here:

Related Articles

Q&A

Exploring the Future of Cross-Border Trade: A Conversation with Michael Brookbanks

Leading DECaDE’s research examining the application of decentralised technologies in support of physical supply chains and business ecosystems, we speak to Michael Brookbanks, Research Fellow at the University of Surrey.
News

DECaDE’s Dr Gemma Canet Tarrés recognised at premier conference

In a remarkable achievement for a newly graduated scientist, DECaDE’s Dr Gemma Canet Tarrés's research on image generation has been honoured at CVPR 2025, the premier Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition Conference.
Q&A

Advancing Research on Privacy & Decentralised Reputation

In our latest Q&A, we sit down with Abubakar - Sadiq Shehu to explore the findings and impact of his recent research in the field of cybersecurity. With the rapid evolution of technologies like blockchain and their application to real-world problems in cybersecurity, he shares valuable insights into his work and its broader implications.
Scroll to Top