Comic Book UK — New UK Comic Publishers’ Trade Association To Protect Against Generative AI

Announced this week, Comic Book UK is a new trade body that includes a number of major UK comic publishers with plans to both support comics and to address the threats of generative AI and copyright infringement.

Okay, first of all, let’s nail some colours to the mast here. AI can be a good thing. But AI that trains itself and produces its work by wholesale theft of creative works, both writing and art in the case of comics, is exactly that – theft. Nothing more and nothing less.

Anyway, that having been said, it’s a good step to hear of the formation of Comic Book UK, a collection of UK publishers in a trade association banding together to present a united front against the threats of generative AI. These publishers include DC Thomson (publishers of Beano and Commando), Rebellion Entertainment (2000 AD), Avery Hill Publishing, and The Phoenix Comic. More publishers will be invited and brought into Comic Book UK in time.

And there’s a lot to fight against. The UK government are seemingly intent, as is the US government, in opening up existing copyright law to allow generative AI to scrape (steal) copyrighted material to let the AI programs learn (steal) to create works based on those copyrighted works.

Here in the UK, there’s been a government consultation with proposals to allow AI tech firms to plunder copyrighted material without licences or payment. Yes, creatives and publishers would have, in theory, the opportunity to opt out, but that’s in no way the right way to go about it, not to mention the extra work involved for the creatives and the publishers. The responses to the proposals are currently being reviewed.

Hopefully, Comic Book UK and its united front means that it can play a key part in the Government’s AI strategy, as well as helping to support the industry’s growth for the future.

This from Mark Fuller, Comic Book UK Chief Executive:

‘Comics are one of the jewels in the crown of the UK’s creative industries and there is enormous untapped potential for further growth. We have the creative talent and business-base to become a global comics superpower, with UK companies growing and expanding their reach into new territories alongside inward investment from the huge North American, Asian Pacific and European comic industries. Comic Book UK will provide the cross-industry representation and support needed to unlock this potential.’

Future plans include playing what they describe as ‘a constructive role in debates around regulation of generative AI, ensuring that the value of UK comic companies’ intellectual property is maintained within a regime that supports innovation.’ More than that, the group will research and analyse the UK comic industry’s economic value, look at ways to increase growth, and promote the UK to international companies.

All very good news. And remember, AI in the creative industries is based on theft.

More from Comic Book UK at comicbookuk.com and all the socials.