CLA expands licences to support generative AI use in the workplace
The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) has announced the addition of new permissions to its commercial and public sector licences, enabling UK professionals to use copyright protected content to prompt generative AI (GAI) tools. These new permissions, effective 1 May 2025, will allow the lawful copying of published content to prompt relevant GAI tools to generate outputs.*
CLA’s recent research, involving 4,000 UK organisations, revealed that 61% of professionals are already using generative AI for work purposes, with 4 in 5 using it weekly. Over three-quarters of GAI users upload, copy, and paste third-party materials into prompts, with this trend expected to grow.
GAI is proving to be a valuable tool for professionals, transforming work practices and driving productivity. Whether creating internal presentations, drafting reports or generating content, GAI is helping to elevate these tasks. By integrating generative AI tools into their day-to-day work, professionals can improve efficiency, reducing time spent on repetitive tasks and allowing more focus on innovation.
As professionals increasingly use copyright-protected content in GAI tools at work, these new permissions from CLA will ensure lawful use and peace of mind, while fairly remunerating rightsholders and creators for the reuse of their work.
CLA has worked closely with its Members, representing publishers, authors and visual artists, on developing these new rights so that UK organisations will be able to benefit from these new rights from 1 May 2025. Licensees will be able to harness the benefits of the latest technologies while innovating in a compliant and responsible manner.
Mat Pfleger, CEO of CLA, said:
“Collective Licensing provides a cost-effective and efficient solution for organisations whose employees use copyright protected content in the workplace. Starting May, our business and public sector customers will benefit from new permissions that support the responsible use of generative AI tools at work. Our goal has always been to enable our customers to legally copy, utilise, and share copyrighted content while protecting the rights of rightsholders and creators. Generative AI, like other technological advancements before it, offers great benefits for our customers but also brings new risks and challenges in how employees legally use copyrighted content. These new permissions will allow organisations and their employees to leverage GAI technology responsibly, ensuring fair remuneration for rightsholders and helping the creative industries continue to thrive.”
To stay up to date with the development of CLA licensing solutions covering the usage of published content and generative AI, sign up here: cla.co.uk/ai-and-copyright.
* Subject to certain terms and conditions.