--- title: "United Kingdom — AI & Intellectual Property | Global AI Monitor" canonical: https://artificial-intelligence.gi/jurisdictions/united-kingdom/ai-and-intellectual-property/ source_html: /jurisdictions/united-kingdom/ai-and-intellectual-property/index.html description: "United Kingdom — AI & Intellectual Property: 06 AI & Intellectual Property Active Under review ▾ # Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (Date not recorded): Core UK copyright statute; s.29A permits copying for text and dat" generated_at: 2026-10-25T22:24:54Z content_sha256: fa1e39cd2c5038fc06215603011f12c5596c9b25c5c3bfdcf2e88ef3cf7f1193 generator: "fe-fleet/md-twin@1.0" --- # United Kingdom — AI & Intellectual Property | Global AI Monitor ### 06AI & Intellectual PropertyActive Derived: Probable▾# Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (Date not recorded): Core UK copyright statute; s.29A permits copying for text and data analysis only for non-commercial research by a person with lawful access. 3 instruments · 1 obligation · 6 claims 3 instruments (3 current) · 1 obligation · 6 claims · 2 milestones Instruments - Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Date not recordedCore UK copyright statute; s.29A permits copying for text and data analysis only for non-commercial research by a person with lawful access. No commercial AI training exception has been enacted. Getty v Stability AI tested secondary infringement over model weights.Binding · Authority: UK Parliament · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48) - Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 In force since 2025-08-20Act amending UK data protection law; for AI governance it creates the s.138 purported-intimate-image offences, the ss.135-137 copyright-and-AI reporting duties, and establishes the Information Commission.Binding · Authority: Information Commission (successor to the Information Commissioner's Office) · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/18) - Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence (section 136 Data (Use and Access) Act 2025) Published 2026-03-18Government report laid under DUAA s.136 stating that a broad text-and-data-mining exception with opt-out is no longer its preferred way forward.Non-binding · Authority: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology · Verified 8 Oct 2026 · [Official text](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence) Obligations - Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 s.29A(1)Copying for computational analysis is non-infringing only if made by a person with lawful access for the sole purpose of non-commercial research and accompanied by sufficient acknowledgement.other · Applies to: other · Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 Milestones - 6 Feb 2026Sexual Offences Act 2003 ss.66E-66F (purported intimate image offences) in force MetData (Use and Access) Act 2025 - 18 Mar 2026Section 136 report on copyright works and AI due within nine months of 19 June 2025; report published 18 March 2026 MetData (Use and Access) Act 2025 Claims and evidence (6) - The copyright and AI reporting duties in sections 135-137 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 came into force on 20 August 2025.Confidence: Probable · As of 20 Aug 2025 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, sections 135-137 (Copyright works and artificial intelligence systems)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/18/part/7/crossheading/copyright-works-and-artificial-intelligence-systems) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · s.135(1) (economic impact assessment)must, before the end of the period of 9 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed— - [Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, sections 135-137 (Copyright works and artificial intelligence systems)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/18/part/7/crossheading/copyright-works-and-artificial-intelligence-systems) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · s.136 commencement informationS. 136 in force at 20.8.2025 by S.I. 2025/904, reg. 2(w) - Sections 135-136 required the Secretary of State to publish an economic impact assessment and a report on the use of copyright works in AI development within nine months of Royal Assent; the report was published on 18 March 2026.Confidence: Probable · As of 18 Mar 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, sections 135-137 (Copyright works and artificial intelligence systems)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/18/part/7/crossheading/copyright-works-and-artificial-intelligence-systems) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · s.135(1) (economic impact assessment)must, before the end of the period of 9 months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed— - [Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, sections 135-137 (Copyright works and artificial intelligence systems)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/18/part/7/crossheading/copyright-works-and-artificial-intelligence-systems) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · s.136(1)(a)(a)prepare and publish a report on the use of copyright works in the development of AI systems, and - Derived: Probable The High Court's judgment in Getty Images v Stability AI, handed down 4 November 2025, held that Stability AI's model weights do not themselves store or reproduce Getty's copyright works, while finding limited trade mark infringement.Confidence: Probable · As of 4 Nov 2025 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Getty Images (US) Inc and others v Stability AI Ltd [2025] EWHC 2863 (Ch), approved judgment](https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Getty-Images-v-Stability-AI.pdf) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Approved judgment, cover pageIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LIST (ChD) Royal Courts of Justice Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1NL Date: 04/1 - In its section 136 report published 18 March 2026 the Government said a broad copyright exception with opt-out is no longer its preferred way forward and proposed to gather further evidence.Confidence: Probable · As of 18 Mar 2026 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Report on Copyright and AI, executive summarya broad copyright exception with opt-out is no longer the government's preferred way forward. We propose to gather further evidence on how copyright laws are impacting the development and deployment of AI across the economy. - [Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · GOV.UK publication headerPublished 18 March 2026 This was published under the 2024 to 2026 Starmer Labour government ## Contents 1. Section A: - [Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-and-impact-assessment-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence/report-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Report, introductionThis report has been prepared pursuant to section 136 of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 ("the D(UA) Act"). It considers the use of copyright works in the development of artificial in - Section 29A of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 permits a copy made for computational analysis only where the sole purpose is non-commercial research and the person has lawful access.Confidence: Probable · evidencedEvidence and sources[Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 29A](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/29A) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · CDPA s.29A(1)(1)The making of a copy of a work by a person who has lawful access to the work does not infringe copyright in the work provided that— - [Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 29A](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/section/29A) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · CDPA s.29A(1)(a)(a)the copy is made in order that a person who has lawful access to the work may carry out a computational analysis of anything recorded in the work for the sole purpose of research for a non-commercial purpose, and - Derived: Probable In its judgment of 4 November 2025 the High Court held that Stability AI's trained Stable Diffusion model does not store Getty's copyright works and that the model weights are not themselves an infringing copy; Getty has sought permission to appeal.Confidence: Probable · As of 4 Nov 2025 · evidencedEvidence and sources[Getty Images (US) Inc and others v Stability AI Ltd [2025] EWHC 2863 (Ch), approved judgment](https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Getty-Images-v-Stability-AI.pdf) T1 · retrieved · retrieved 8 Oct 2026 · Approved judgment, cover pageIN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LIST (ChD) Royal Courts of Justice Rolls Building, Fetter Lane, London, EC4A 1NL Date: 04/1 Open evidence