Sir Elton John Sir called the UK government "an absolute loser" and allowed tech companies to use copyrighted work without permission.

The songwriter said changing copyright laws to benefit AI companies is a "criminal crime."

John said in an interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday that the government was “robbing the legacy and income of young people”, adding: “I think it’s a criminal offense. The government is just an absolute loser and I’m very angry about it.

John described technology minister Peter Kyle as an "idiot" and said he would put the minister in court if the government did not change its copyright plan. Kyle was accused of sharply increasing meetings with companies like Google, Amazon, Apple and Meta last week since the Labour Party won the election, after analytics showed a sharp increase in meetings with companies like Google, Amazon, Apple and Meta.

John voted before the House of Lords on a proposal by multinational peer Beeban Kidron, which would require AI companies to disclose their use of copyrighted content, allowing creative professionals to use their materials by seeking a license agreement.

John mentioned a similar amendment that received peers’ support last week until the government was removed from office in the House of Commons in a tit tat process that threatened to mess up the data bill (a tool for the House of Lords to protest the government’s copyright proposals – in a game of legislation between parliaments.

“It’s a criminal because I feel incredible betrayal: the House of Lords voted, and it’s one-on-one in our favor, and the government just looked at it, as if saying, “Well, seniors… old people like me can afford it,” John said.

The government is consulting on a proposal that will allow AI companies to train technology for their models, products such as chatbots, without permission, unless copyright holders signal that they do not want to use their work. Sources close to Kyle said that while it is still on the desktop, it is no longer the go-to option in consultation.

Other options are: keep the situation the same; require AI companies to seek permission to use copyrighted jobs; and allow AI companies to use copyrighted jobs without quitting creative professionals.

A government spokesman said that unless “we are completely satisfied that they work for creators”, there will be no consideration for copyright changes. The spokesman added that the government's recent commitment to conducting an economic impact assessment of these proposals will explore "a broad range of issues and options in all aspects of the debate".