PLS offers new collective AI licensing opportunity to publishers
We are proud to announce 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, which has been developed along with the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) and the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS).
The CLA Generative AI Solution will not only include a publisher and author-backed licence but also a content repository that 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 will provide publishers with access to the evolving licensing market for AI and will provide a practical, scalable solution to the continuing unauthorised use of published works by AI companies. As the use of copyrighted material in AI systems continues to expand, publishers are seeking practical routes to ensure their content is used lawfully and is fairly valued. Joining together as an industry in support of a collective licensing solution will give publishers small and large the opportunity to safeguard and monetise their work.
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, providing an additional route for publishers of all sizes to participate in and benefit from AI-related uses of their content.
Tom West, Chief Executive of PLS, says: “The London Book Fair provides an important opportunity for the industry to come together and consider how established collective licensing models can be extended to this new context.
“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 collective approach that aims to ensure content use in AI models is lawful and fairly remunerated.”
If you're already signed up to PLS' services, please sign in to the publisher area where you can find more detailed information about the licence and how to opt in your content.
Click here to sign in and find out more.
FAQ: Collective AI Licensing Scheme for Publishers
Publishers’ Licensing Services (PLS) is inviting publishers to opt in to a new collective licensing scheme for generative AI.
The scheme is designed to make it easier for AI companies to legally access and use published content, while ensuring publishers are paid for that use.
This announcement marks the first stage of the initiative, with publishers now being asked to opt in their content.
Why is this needed?
Many AI models are currently being trained using large volumes of published text, often without permission from the rights holders.
The scheme provides a clear and lawful route for AI companies to license content, helping to ensure publishers and authors are properly rewarded when their work is used.
It also creates a practical way for smaller publishers, who may not be able to negotiate directly with large technology companies, to participate in the AI licensing market.
How will the scheme work?
Publishers who opt in will allow their content to be licensed for use by AI developers through collective agreements.
PLS will work with the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) to:
- host a content store where publishers can make material available
- license that content to AI developers
- distribute revenue from those licences back to publishers.
This model builds on the UK’s existing collective licensing system, which already manages rights for photocopying, digital reuse and other forms of content sharing.
What types of AI use will the licence cover?
The licence is intended to cover the use of text for:
- training AI models
- fine-tuning AI systems
- retrieval-augmented generation (where AI tools draw on existing information to produce answers).
This applies to both large and small language models.
Is the scheme mandatory?
No. The scheme is entirely voluntary and opt-in.
Publishers decide:
- whether to participate
- which content they make available
- the type of generative AI use they wish to licence for (training and fine tuning, retrieval-augmented generation.
It also does not replace direct commercial agreements between publishers and AI companies. Instead, it offers an additional route to market.
Which publishers does this apply to?
The scheme is open to all types of publishers, including:
- books
- academic and scholarly publishing
- magazines and specialist media
- professional and educational publishing.
The aim is to ensure publishers of all sizes can participate in the emerging AI licensing market.
Why launch this now?
The rapid growth of generative AI has created urgent questions about how copyrighted content is used in training AI systems.
The publishing industry is seeking practical solutions that allow AI innovation to continue, while ensuring the lawful use and fair value of creative work.
How much money could publishers make from this?
Collective licensing has historically generated significant sustainable revenue for publishers. In 2024–25, PLS returned £48 million to publishers through licensing and permissions schemes.
While it is too early to estimate the precise value of AI licensing, we are developing pricing models based on currently established licensing benchmarks.
The aim is to ensure that as the AI market grows, publishers and authors share in that value.
What happens next?
Publishers are now being invited to opt in to the scheme. Following this stage, PLS will work with the Copyright Licensing Agency and AI developers to implement the licensing framework and enable AI companies to license content through the system.
How can publishers opt in to the scheme?
Publishers wishing to opt in their content or find out more information about the scheme are advised to contact PLS directly.
For further details, please contact publisher-relations@pls.org.uk.
PLS will then work with participating publishers to onboard their content and explain how the licensing framework will operate in practice.
