Leading figures in the UK creative industries have called on technology companies to pay creators whose work they use, arguing that designers, artists, authors and performers should share in the value their output generates. The letter, signed by executives from major collecting societies, raises the question of who should benefit as artificial intelligence and technology firms grow increasingly reliant on creative content. The appeal comes after AI firm Anthropic announced plans to commit 5% of its shares to a fund for public good, prompting the signatories to argue that companies should first ensure creators are compensated.
The letter proposes a Smart Fund that would require device manufacturers and importers to make contributions based on products used to copy or store creative work. According to the proposal, such a scheme could generate up to £300m annually for UK creators. This approach mirrors systems already in place across more than 40 other countries, where creators receive private-copying payments. Currently, UK creators receive no such payments despite smartphones, computers and other devices enabling creative work to be copied and stored at scale.
The financial situation facing creators underscores the urgency of the proposal. Visual artists have a median annual income of just £12,500, representing a 47% decline in real terms since 2010. Authors earn a median of £7,000 from writing, down from £11,300 according to surveys from 2018 and 2022 respectively. Audiovisual performers report median annual earnings from performing of £17,500. The signatories argue that these persistent and falling incomes mean additional payments would make a tangible difference to creators' livelihoods.
The letter is signed by Barbara Hayes, chief executive of the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society, Tayyiba Nasser, chief executive of the British Equity Collecting Society, Christian Zimmermann, chief executive of the Design and Artists Copyright Society, and Paul Seheult, chief executive of PICSEL. They argue that creators' work is fundamental to technology adoption and innovation, yet they remain undercompensated. The signatories are calling on the government to implement the Smart Fund as a matter of principle, enabling creators to continue their work and sustaining the cycle of cultural production that drives technological engagement.