Copyright and AI reference group to be established

The Albanese Government is establishing a copyright and artificial intelligence (AI) reference group to better prepare for future copyright challenges emerging from AI.

AI gives rise to a number of important copyright issues, including the material used to train AI models, transparency of inputs and outputs, the use of AI to create imitative works, and whether and when AI-generated works should receive copyright protection.

The reference group will be a standing mechanism for ongoing engagement with stakeholders across a wide range of sectors, including the creative, media and technology sectors, to consider issues in a careful and consultative way.

Engagement with a broad range of stakeholders and sectors will help Australia harness AI opportunities, while continuing to support the vitality of our creative sector.

The reference group will complement other AI-related Government initiatives, including the work being led by the Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic on the safe and responsible use of AI.

The establishment of the group is an outcome of the series of roundtables on copyright that I initiated this year. I was pleased to host a fourth and final roundtable yesterday and thank everyone who has participated throughout 2023.

The roundtables have enabled the Albanese Government to hear from more than 50 peak bodies and other organisations about copyright reform issues, and I look forward to continuing discussions on AI through the reference group.

Further information on the reference group and the other outcomes of the fourth copyright roundtable will be available on the Attorney-General’s Department’s website in the near future.