The International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) Copyright Laws and Regulations 2026, United Kingdom Chapter 19
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I am an associate in our Intellectual Property Group based in London, focusing on contentious matters. My practice encompasses a number of sectors including Media, Entertainment and Sport, Retail and Consumer, and Technology and Communications.
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The ICLG Copyright Laws and Regulations 2026 provides practical, jurisdiction-specific insights to help you navigate the complexities of copyright enforcement, licensing, and litigation across multiple territories.
Expert Analysis
The guide addresses the questions that matter now. How are UK courts interpreting copyright in the digital era? What recent developments affect online content, AI-generated works, or music licensing?
Our experts explore these issues in "Don't Look Back in Anger, I Heard You Say: Musings on Copyright History and Why the Old Law Still Matters Today", examining how key decisions shape strategies for rights holders, platforms, and creators.
Bird & Bird's UK Chapter
Our UK chapter, authored by William Wortley, breaks down enforcement, infringement, and licensing challenges you need to understand.
You'll find analysis of significant cases and developments such as:
- THJ Systems Limited & Anor v Daniel Sheridan & Anor EWCA Civ 1354 – where the Court of Appeal confirmed that the standard of originality is whether the work in question is the "author's own intellectual creation".
- Waterrower (UK) Limited v Liking Limited (t/a TOPIOM) EWHC 2086 – an IPEC decision that addressed the tension between CJEU case law and the closed list of works provided by the CDPA, demonstrating that both the EU originality threshold and the CDPA requirements must be satisfied for copyright to subsist.
- Columbia Pictures Industries Inc v British Telecommunications Plc EWHC 1789 (Ch) – where the court granted a blocking injunction in relation to IPTV services, finding that making infringing content available via apps and websites amounted to a communication to the public.
- Getty Images (US), Inc. & others v Stability AI Ltd – the first UK case to consider copyright infringement claims brought in relation to generative AI systems, with judgment expected in Autumn 2025.
Looking ahead, the UK government announced its consultation on AI and copyright on 17 December 2024, setting out proposals for changing copyright legislation to "find the right balance between encouraging innovation in AI in the UK while ensuring protection for creators and our vibrant creative industries". The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 19 June 2025, requires the Secretary of State to publish an economic impact assessment and a report on the use of copyright works in AI development by March 2026, making strategic planning essential for rights holders and creators.
Access the chapter here: ICLG UK Copyright Chapter
