AI and copyright settings update
November 11, 2026
The Australian Government is still considering whether it will introduce any changes to the Copyright Act in relation to artificial intelligence (AI). If it does introduce changes, it is not currently clear what the changes might be.
The Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (JSCAI) is due to deliver its report on 30 November. Its terms of reference cover a range of issues including: Australia’s resilience, productivity growth, economic competitiveness, and living standards; national security and strategic resilience; the workforce and skills implications of AI; and the use of Australian creative, cultural and media content in the training of AI models.
On 12 October, the Committee wrote to the Prime Minister to ‘provide early advice and recommendations’ (link to the letter here). The recommendations related to AI safeguards, data centre standards, and sovereign capability.
On copyright, the letter says:
The JSCAI notes that current copyright arrangements are not facilitating licensing deals for Australian culture and content, particularly for Australian-headquartered companies, and that the status quo sees the work of Australian artists, musicians and media outlets used overseas without adequate control or payment. Frontier AI labs indicate existing copyright settings are a barrier to undertaking training in Australia. The JSCAI recommends that the Australian Government examine current copyright settings and prioritise ensuring that Australian creators retain control over how their works are used, that they are paid, and that AI systems reflect Australian values and culture.
The Committee has received more than 570 submissions and held a series of public hearings. Copyright Agency’s submission is here, and our CEO, Jo Johnston, appeared before the Committee on 6 October (transcript here).
The most recent public hearings were on 30 October (here) and included the Department of Industry, Attorney-General’s Department and the Office of Artificial Intelligence.
The Attorney-General’s Department is responsible for stakeholder consultations on copyright issues and consultations are continuing.
On 10 November, the Government announced that it would introduce legislation with mandatory AI safety and security protections, following recommendations in the letter from JSCAI.