Music rights body warns Australian government against tech firms seeking copyright law changes
The International Confederation of Music Publishers claims AI companies have trained on Australian artist works without pay and are pressuring the government to weaken copyright laws.
Unpaid training on local artists
Tech firms have reportedly used songs by Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave to train artificial intelligence models. The peak global music rights body states this usage has occurred without providing compensation to the creators. ICMP representatives argue that these companies are attempting to force policymakers into accepting terms they describe as legitimising theft.
Government faces unique pressure
Australia appears to be the only nation among dozens approached by international groups to consider diluting its copyright protections. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously stated that failing to control how art is used for AI would constitute theft. A parliamentary committee on artificial intelligence recently described the current negotiations between the government and tech lobbyists as a stalemate.
Lobbying efforts behind closed doors
Music, film, media and news organisations have expressed concern that global tech companies are lobbying without public transparency. These groups fear the Australian government might yield to threats regarding investment if copyright laws are not weakened. The situation remains unresolved as officials continue to review the issue this week.
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