As the UK announces a General Election for 4 July, the Publishers Association (PA) has outlined its hopes for the new government. A society that is “literate, well-informed by trusted content and fiercely openly democratic”, is among the broad aims, with specific concerns over AI and copyright.
Dan Conway, PA CEO said: “Our asks of the incoming government are clear: ensure that AI growth does not come at the expense of intellectual property and human creativity; proudly uphold the UK’s copyright framework as a driver of creativity, research and innovation; axe the final taxes on reading and learning; restore an open and fair market for education resources; and invest in libraries and literacy.
“We will work to show politicians on all sides the publishing industry’s economic value to the UK, as well as its huge cultural and academic importance in inspiring the next generation of readers and learners. If we want a society that is literate, well-informed by trusted content and fiercely openly democratic, then the publishing sector needs to be a cornerstone of any government’s future plans.”
He added: “The publishing sector is worth an extraordinary £11bn overall to the economy and is the global leader in book exports – that deserves recognition and political support from all sides of the political debate.”