Panel floats blanket AI training licence for original content

A GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED COMMITTEE has recommended creation of a mandatory blanket licence allowing artificial intelligence (AI) developers to use all lawfully accessed copyrighted works for training AI systems, alongside a statutory remuneration right for creators.

- OJASVI GUPTA

The proposal forms the core of a working paper — ‘One Nation, One Licence, One Payment: Balancing AI Innovation and Copyright’ — released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for public consultation.

The committee, set up on April 28 and headed by DPIIT Additional Secretary Himani Pande, said it adopted a majority view in favour of an AI training licence that would apply across all categories of copyrighted content. Stakeholders have been given 30 days to submit feedback.

UNDER THE PROPOSED model, "the rights holders will not have the option to withhold their works for use in the training of AI systems. A centralised entity made by the rights holders and designated by the central government under the statute, would be responsible for collecting the payments from the developers of the AI systems," DPIIT said.