Publishers' Licensing Services (PLS), the non-profit, government-regulated organisation, is announcing the launch of the first stage of an industry-led collective licensing initiative, designed to ensure the use of published work by AI companies in generative AI is both fair and lawful.
The first phase of the initiative invites publishers to opt in to a collective licence scheme, developed along with the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) and the Authors Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS). The licence along with an online content store will enable AI companies to legally access and use published works in exchange for a licence fee, under clear and transparent usage guidelines.
The pioneering scheme provides publishers with access to the evolving licensing market for AI and a practical, scalable solution to the continuing unauthorised use of published works by AI companies.
PLS is owned and directed by the Publishers Association, the Independent Publishers Guild, Professional Publishers Association and Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers. After extensive consultation with publishers last year, London Book Fair marks a significant step towards the full launch of this initiative.
The initiative builds on the UK's established voluntary collective licensing model, extending a trusted and proven framework to address generative AI. It is designed to operate alongside direct agreements between publishers and AI companies.
The pace of change is rapid, and publishers must remain active participants in shaping how their content is used. This first stage is about engagement and collaboration. By opting in, publishers will be part of a collective approach that aims to ensure content use in AI models is lawful and fairly remunerated.
Following opt-in, PLS will work with the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) to engage directly with AI developers and embed the licensing framework within the technology sector.
In 2024 to 2025, PLS returned £48 million to publishers in collective licensing and permissions revenue. Since its establishment, PLS has distributed close to £1 billion directly to publishers.
