Global media bodies urge Australia to reject AI copyright exemption

Sixty international media organizations have formally urged Australian legislators to reject proposed copyright law amendments permitting AI companies to train models on copyrighted content without permission. The coalition, coordinated by the News Media Alliance, warned in an open letter that enacting such exceptions would create negative precedents reverberating through global intellectual property frameworks. Signatories include major publishers from North America, Europe, and Asia who argue the proposal undermines creator compensation and devalues journalistic investment. The letter targets ongoing consultations regarding Australia’s Copyright Act review, specifically addressing text and data mining exceptions for generative AI development. Industry representatives contend that allowing uncompensated commercial use of news content threatens media sustainability while providing unfair subsidies to technology firms. Government officials have acknowledged receipt of the submission as parliamentary committees continue evaluating stakeholder feedback on balancing innovation incentives with intellectual property protections in the emerging AI regulatory landscape.