Published Date : 27/10/2025
The Australian government has firmly ruled out changing copyright laws to give tech giants the freedom to train artificial intelligence (AI) models on creative works. This decision comes after the proposal faced widespread backlash from artists and content creators.
The government's copyright and AI reference group will meet this week to review whether copyright laws need to be updated in the age of artificial intelligence. However, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has made it clear that any changes will not include a carve-out for developers to train their systems on Australian works.
An exemption for text and data mining (TDM) has been advocated by parts of the tech sector and was suggested by the Productivity Commission in its interim report on harnessing data and digital technology. The report estimated that AI could add $116 billion to the economy over a decade. However, the creative sector immediately criticized the proposal, warning that it would allow tech giants to use copyrighted work without permission and deprive artists of valuable income.
In the days following the report's release, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Industry and Science Minister Tim Ayres both stated that the government had
Q: What is the government's stance on changing copyright laws for AI?
A: The Australian government has ruled out changing copyright laws to allow tech giants to train AI models on creative works without permission.
Q: Why did the creative sector oppose the proposed exemption?
A: The creative sector opposed the proposed exemption because it would allow tech giants to use copyrighted work without permission and deprive artists of valuable income.
Q: What is the estimated economic impact of AI in Australia?
A: The Productivity Commission estimated that AI could add $116 billion to the Australian economy over a decade.
Q: What is the TDM exemption, and why is it controversial?
A: The TDM exemption would allow tech companies to use copyrighted materials for training AI models without explicit permission. It is controversial because it could undermine the rights of content creators.
Q: What did the Productivity Commission say about the TDM exception?
A: The Productivity Commission noted that a TDM exception would not be a 'blank cheque' for all copyrighted materials and would still require fair use considerations to protect the rights of copyright holders.