ARIA Backs Productivity Commission Ruling on Copyright and AI Licensing

ARIA has welcomed the Productivity Commission’s final report on copyright and AI licensing, which confirmed there is no current justification for changes to Australia’s copyright laws.

In its final report on Harnessing Data and Digital Technology, the Productivity Commission explicitly recognised that licensing markets for copyright material are already developing and should be allowed to continue without government interference.

“Licensing markets are developing for many types of copyright material for AI training. To date, most licensing agreements have been for high-value works with established copyright holders, such as news media corporations and large book publishers,” the Commission’s report states. “The Australian Government should allow these licensing markets to develop without interference.

“No changes to Australian law are required to facilitate the voluntary licensing of category 2 materials, which should be allowed to continue to develop. Direct and collective licensing of these materials is relatively efficient, providing AI developers with access to large amounts of content at relatively low transaction costs (since the rights holders typically hold rights to large amounts of content and are easy to identify).

“Such licensing also creates more incentives for the production of new creative content, to the benefit of both the public and AI developers,” it reads.

ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd said these findings “reinforce” what Australian creators and rights holders have consistently argued.

“Our copyright system is robust, fit for purpose, and should be allowed to do its job in protecting the value of Australian culture,” she said.

“This report clearly affirms that Australia does not need new copyright carve-outs or regulatory shortcuts to enable artificial intelligence. Importantly, it also ensures that creators retain agency over how their work is used, while still enabling innovation to proceed at scale.

“The Commission has recognised that voluntary licensing – whether direct or collective – provides AI developers with certainty and access, while also supporting the continued creation of Australian music, stories and culture. That balance is essential. Rather than a barrier, Copyright is the framework that allows innovation and creativity to coexist. We are thrilled to see that recognised.”

ARIA said it will continue to engage “constructively” with government through ongoing processes, including the Copyright and AI Reference Group (CAIRG), to ensure that Australia’s approach to artificial intelligence remains grounded in permission, payment and respect for creators’ rights.