AI Trained on Copyrighted Material Without Permission Poses ‘Direct Threat' to Film Industry, Says BFI

Artificial intelligence trained on copyrighted material without permission 'poses a direct threat to the economic foundations of the UK screen sector,' a report by the British Film Institute (BFI) says.
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Other issues raised include concerns about the future of the workforce, as well as the need for new skills training for sector employees to be able to adapt to and operate in an AI-enhanced screen industry.
The report on the use of AI in the film, TV, visual special effects, and video game industries published on Monday says the source of training data for generative AI models includes scripts from more that 130,000 films and television shows, as well as databases of pirated books and content uploaded to YouTube.
The analysis was carried out in partnership with CoSTAR, the UK's creative research and development network which is led by Goldsmiths, Loughborough, and Edinburgh universities.
Professor Jonny Freeman, director of CoSTAR Foresight Lab, said that the landscape of AI is complex, with both disadvantages and advantages for its inclusion in the screen sector.
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Freeman said, 'The report acknowledges that while AI offers powerful tools to enhance creativity, efficiency and competitiveness across every stage of the production workflow – from script development and pre-production planning, through on-set production, to post-production and distribution – it also raises urgent questions around skills, workforce adaptation, ethics, and sector sustainability.'
AI Used in Industry
One of the BFI's recommendations is for the UK to establish AI training licences, enabling deals between intellectual property (IP) rightsholders and AI developers.
'The UK is well-positioned to lead in this space, thanks to its 'gold standard' copyright regime, a vibrant creative technology ecosystem, and a coalition of creative organisations advocating for fair licensing practices.' the report says.
AI is already been used for dubbing and visual effects in film and televisions, notably in the post-production of 'The Brutalist,' starring Adrien Brody, which
Adrien Brody attending the special screening of The Brutalist, at Picturehouse Central Cinema, London, on Jan. 15, 2025.
Ian West/PA Wire
The report also recommends the screen sector build skills complementary to AI, making the workforce resilient to technological changes.
'AI automation may, in time, lower demand for certain digital content creation skills. It may also create new opportunities for roles that require human oversight, creative direction, and technical fluency in AI systems,' it said.
Rishi Coupland, the BFI's director of research and innovation, said the report 'comes at a critical time and shows how generative AI presents an inflection point for the sector and, as a sector, we need to act quickly on a number of key strategic fronts.'
'While it offers significant opportunities for the screen sector such as speeding up production workflows, democratising content creation and empowering new voices, it could also erode traditional business models, displace skilled workers, and undermine public trust in screen content,' he said.
Artists Call for IP Protections
The report was published as the government attempts to pass the Data (Use and Access) Bill, which would allow tech companies to train their AI on copyrighted material unless the creator explicitly opts out. The House of Lords has been demanding an amendment be added to ensure artists are offered copyright protection.
High-profile artists are also calling for better protections for their creative output.
In February,
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy arrives in Downing Street, London, England, on Oct. 30, 2024.
Lucy North/PA Wire
Last week, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy sought to reassure the creative sector that artists would not be harmed by future legislation and AI.
Addressing the Media & Telecoms 2025 and Beyond Conference on June 3, she
'I will never stop working for creatives to deliver solutions, transparency and the empowerment that you need in the digital age. We are a Labour government, and the principle of people must be paid for their work is foundational, and you have our word that if it doesn't work for the creative industries, it will not work for us,' Nandy said.

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