The British government has announced it is abandoning a proposal that would have allowed AI companies to use copyrighted content for model training with an "optional" clause. This proposal had drawn widespread opposition, including from Elton John, Dua Lipa, and the House of Lords. Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall stated that the government had listened to feedback and would no longer pursue the proposal. A report released at the same time indicated that a consensus had not yet been reached on how to balance creators' rights with the development of the AI industry. Tom Kiehl, CEO of UK Music, called the move a "major victory." However, the British government has not yet proposed an alternative and stated that it will not adjust current copyright laws until it is certain that reforms will achieve economic and social goals. Technology industry groups worry that a prolonged lack of clear rules could weaken the UK's competitive position globally. (BBC)