Copyright Agency congratulates the Attorney-General and the Albanese Government on maintaining copyright protections for Australian Creators
October 27, 2025
Copyright Agency congratulates the Attorney General Michelle Rowland and the Albanese Government on the announcement today that the Government will not be watering down the copyright protections that provide essential support for Australian authors, artists and publishers to thrive in the age of AI.
In resisting the pressure from multinational AI developers for copyright exemptions that would allow them to freely access Australian books and artworks for AI training, the Government has put Australians’ interests first. This recognises the complementary relationship between ethical AI development in Australia and sustainability of Australia’s creative industries.
Copyright Agency CEO, Josephine Johnston, said “On behalf of our 40,000 members, we applaud the Government’s leadership in supporting Australian writers, artists and publishers. Australian copyright laws enable ongoing investment in the creation of new works and provide thousands of jobs for those working in the creative industries. In the digital age, licensing access and providing fair payment for the use of material should be the objective of all concerned.”
Dr Kate Harrison, Chair of the Copyright Agency, acknowledged the significance of this outcome for the creative industries. “The decision by the Australian Government to reject demands to introduce free exceptions in favour of AI developers will ensure that AI development in Australia can proceed fairly, with a clear expectation that creators are to be compensated properly for the use of their work.”
The announcement also recognises the importance of creative works in future AI development. “Creative works are an essential input into AI development” says Johnston. “But creators must be compensated for their time and skill. AI developers should adopt business models that reflect the significance of creative input and contribute to a future where both creativity and innovation can thrive.”
Copyright Agency welcomes the Government’s Copyright and AI Reference Group (CAIRG), of which Copyright Agency is a member, reviewing licensing structures to support AI development. Licensing for AI is a rapidly growing market, including in Australia, where it is facilitated by technology-neutral copyright settings and licensing infrastructure. There are a variety of licensing models in place and emerging, including licences from large publishers that hold masses of content and collective solutions that aggregate content from many rightsholders. AI developers can choose to meet their needs from one or several of these solutions.
We are looking forward to working with the Government on these issues