The United States faced a major copyright showdown this week. A government report revealed that AI companies might be breaking copyright laws by using billions of creative works to train their systems without permission. The report specifically called out tech firms for using this data to make products that compete directly with human-made art and music. Just one day after this report came out, former President Trump shocked experts by firing the head of the US Copyright Office. Many fear this move helps big tech companies avoid copyright rules for AI training.

In the United Kingdom, lawmakers and artists formed a strong team to push for AI transparency. Lady Kidron proposed new laws requiring AI companies to publicly list all the books, songs, and artwork they use to train their systems. "We can't let AI companies steal our culture," said Lord Brennan, supporting the plan. Major UK newspapers and music groups signed a letter warning that unchecked AI could destroy creative jobs.

European creatives ratcheted up pressure on EU leaders to create strict AI regulations. Groups representing musicians, writers, and filmmakers argued that current laws don't protect against AI systems that can copy human creativity. They want new rules making AI companies pay to use copyrighted material in training data.

The music industry emerged as a key battleground. UK music leaders warned that government plans to allow some AI training without permission could let tech firms "steal" songs. They emphasized that 2.4 million UK jobs depend on creative industries that could be threatened by uncontrolled AI. Some experts worry that without strict rules, AI could flood markets with computer-made songs and artwork, making it harder for human creators to survive.

Tech billionaires like Elon Musk and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey added fuel to the fire by calling to "delete all copyright laws". Critics shot back that these executives want to take away protections for artists while keeping protections for their own tech inventions. The fight over who controls creative works in the AI age looks set to dominate policy debates worldwide.