Sir Philip Pullman calls for copyright reform to protect writers from AI "scraping"

Author Sir Philip Pullman has urged the government to reform copyright laws concerning "scraping," where writers' works are used to train artificial intelligence (AI) without compensation or recognition. He joins other authors like Kate Mosse and Richard Osman in criticizing this practice, which they believe could undermine growth in creative fields and equate to "theft."

Pullman, known for his acclaimed His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust trilogies, stated that he would be open to companies using his work if they compensated him. He remarked, "But stealing people's work... and then passing it off as something else... That's immoral but unfortunately not illegal."

In December, a consultation on the UK's copyright framework for AI and creative industries attracted over 11,500 responses. The government has since formed expert working groups to address these issues. Pullman expressed his frustration, saying, "As far as I know everybody's work has been stolen, scraped like a trawler... It's a wicked system and I'm profoundly against it."

He emphasized the need for immediate action, stating, "Of course they should change it at once. Don't you steal anybody else's work."

Pullman's latest novel, The Rose Field, concludes the second trilogy about his character Lyra, who exists in a parallel universe where each person has a daemon—an animal companion representing their soul. The series has sold 49 million copies globally.

In The Rose Field, the Magisterium, a powerful religious and political organization, opposes imagination, branding it a false doctrine. Pullman critiques contemporary education policies that emphasize rote memorization and stifle creativity, calling these methods "nonsense."

He argues that imagination is a vital form of perception, essential for understanding concepts like love, fear, and hope—elements that cannot be quantified or analyzed chemically. Additionally, Pullman is an outspoken critic of organized religion, challenging those in power who exploit faith to manipulate others, asserting that such actions are often justified by a misguided belief in fulfilling divine will.