Tender Opportunity Outline — AI Creator Control Research

(IPO / DCMS UK)

 

Summary

• On 18 March 2026 the UK Government published a report on copyright and AI and committed to a review of “creator control” in AI systems.

• The Intellectual Property Office (IPO), working with DCMS, requires a supplier to undertake research to support this review.

• The work is specified as a four‑month project culminating in an interim report for policy officials and a final report prepared for external publication. The Government may wish to share interim findings publicly before final publication.

 

Objective

• To map and evaluate technical tools and standards that enable right‑holders to control access to, and use of, their works by AI systems.

• To assess transparency mechanisms for bots, web crawlers and AI agents.

• To determine market deployment, levels of take‑up, barriers to adoption and whether there is an appropriate role for government to address identified market failures or obstacles.

 

Scope of research (core focus)

• Catalogue current technical tools and standards relevant to creator control (for example: rights labels, creator/ownership identifiers, authenticated correction mechanisms, watermarking, manifest/registry approaches, access control APIs, DDEX/RIN or comparable standards).

• Analyse how these tools are used by rights‑holders and intermediaries (platforms, CMOs, publishers, DSPs, aggregators).

• Assess transparency practices for automated agents (bots, crawlers, AI data‑collectors), including identification, notice and provenance.

• Measure market uptake and operational constraints (technical, commercial, legal, resourcing).

• Identify barriers to effective creator control and recommend whether, and how, Government could intervene (standards, incentives, regulatory measures, public infrastructure).

 

Deliverables and timeline

• Four‑month project duration.

• Interim report shared with IPO/DCMS policy officials (content suitable for internal briefing; Government may choose to communicate some interim findings publicly).

• Final report prepared for external publication containing evidence, analysis and policy options/recommendations.

 

Suggested research methods (expected approaches)

• Rapid evidence review of academic, industry and policy literature.

• Mapping of existing technical standards and toolsets.

• Stakeholder engagement (interviews/workshops) with creators, rights‑holders, platforms, standards bodies, CMOs, technology providers and civil society.

• Case studies illustrating successful and problematical implementations.

• Technical assessment of practicability, interoperability and endurance of candidate approaches.

• Options appraisal for government involvement (cost, feasibility, legal implications).

 

Why this matters to IMBRA members

• The tender sits at the intersection of music, metadata, rights, AI governance and data infrastructure — areas where IMBRA members possess directly relevant expertise.

• Outcomes could shape UK policy on creator control and influence international standards and practice affecting rights management, metadata correction, and AI training/usage.

 

What IMBRA members can offer

• Technical knowledge of metadata standards and identifier systems (ISRC, ISWC, creator IDs, DDEX/RDR, RIN etc.).

• Empirical research capability (qualitative interviews, standards mapping, policy analysis).

• Practical experience from industry, CMOs, DSPs, publishers and creator communities.

• Ability to deliver concise, policy‑oriented outputs on a four‑month timeline.

 

Call to action (for IMBRA members)

• If you or your organisation are interested in bidding or forming a consortium to respond to this tender, please notify IMBRA’s secretariat with:

  • A brief statement of expertise (2–3 lines) and relevant prior work;

  • Confirmation of capacity to deliver research within a four‑month window; and

  • An indication whether you can lead a bid or prefer to join a consortium.

• IMBRA will collate expressions of interest and assist members to form consortia or share contacts where appropriate.

 

Note

• This outline summarises the tender specification provided by IPO/DCMS. Specific application instructions, budget envelope and procurement timelines are set by the contracting authority and should be consulted in the official tender documentation. If members would like, IMBRA can help identify and circulate the full tender notice once available.