In December 2023, the Australian government announced that the Copyright and Artificial Intelligence Reference Group (CAIRG) had been established to prepare for future copyright challenges arising from the surge of artificial intelligence use.
The creation of the committee opened a debate about whether AI companies should be allowed to data mine copyrighted material. While the government has aimed to prioritize Australian artists, it has faced significant pushback from AI companies, which are pushing for text and data mining (TDM) access.
As a result, creative groups across Australia have released a statement urging the government to maintain their stance on copyright protections.
“Organisations representing Australia’s creative and content industries across the music, screen, literature, publishing, visual arts and news media sectors are sending a clear message to the Australian Government: hold the line.
Reports this week that the government has indicated willingness to reopen copyright law as part of negotiations with AI companies seeking major investment commitments in Australia are deeply concerning.”
The ABC reported that briefing notes prior to a February meeting between Assistant Minister Andrew Charlton and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei showed one government demand of Anthropic was that it “commit to working with Australia on frontier AI safety and security.”
The notes also indicated the government sought to “understand Anthropic’s issues with Australia’s copyright regime, how it affects their business and what alternatives have been explored.”
Conversely, signatories of the joint statement say Australia’s current copyright laws do not require modification.
“Australia’s decision last October to reject a copyright exception for artificial intelligence platforms was decisive and world leading. Other governments are now following that lead.”
In an October 2025 Australian Government press release, officials maintained that despite pressures, any updates in negotiations with AI companies would not include a TDM exception.
CAIRG intended to focus on three key points amid negotiations: exploring fair, legal avenues for using copyright material in AI, improving certainty in how copyright law applies to material generated using AI, and finding potential avenues for less costly enforcement.
“The creative works of Australian artists, songwriters, composers, recording artists, authors, writers, filmmakers, producers and journalists are not a bargaining chip in a trade negotiation.
They are the foundation of a $68 billion industry and are Australia’s cultural identity in international markets. Crucially, they are the intellectual property of individual Australians who have not consented to their use and have not been paid.
When Australia rejected the text and data mining exception last October, it sent a clear signal: Australia will not prioritise AI companies at the expense of its creative and cultural sector.”
As the government declared its stance in October 2025, AI companies also made clear their position on copyright limitations. The Guardian reported that Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, said the company’s AI development investments would “be in Australia, one way or the other.”
“Licensing frameworks for AI and creative content are not theoretical. Deals have already been brokered between AI platforms and rights holders, including Australian rights holders, across music, news and other creative sectors, demonstrating the model is workable and the value is real.”
Large corporations have struck agreements with companies like OpenAI, such as News Corp’s multiyear partnership that includes mastheads like The Australian.
“The obligation now falls on those same platforms to extend that framework to all rights holders in every market in which they operate, including Australia.
We stand ready to enter deals with AI companies. There are deals to be done but they are licensing deals, not a copyright carve-out.”
A complete list of organizations backing this statemrnt appears below.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
- Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR)
- Australian and New Zealand Society of Authors (ANZSA)
- Australian Publishers Association (APA)
- Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA)
- Australian Society of Authors (ASA)
- Australian Writers’ Guild (AWG)
- Australasian Music Publishers Association Limited (AMPAL)
- Australasian Performing Right Association & Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (APRA AMCOS)
- Copyright Agency Limited
- Foxtel Group
- Free TV
- Australia National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)
- News Limited / News Corp Australia
- Nine Entertainment Co.
- Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA)
- Screen Producers Australia (SPA)
- Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
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