The International Confederation of Music Publishers claims AI firms are pressuring Australia to weaken copyright laws to allow unlicensed training on copyrighted works.

The International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) has warned the Australian government against succumbing to pressure from tech companies seeking to weaken copyright protections for AI training. The peak global body claims that AI models have already been trained on works by Australian artists, including Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave, without compensation. While tech firms argue that current laws hinder investment, the ICMP describes these efforts as an attempt to legitimize the unauthorized use of creative content.

Global Pressure and Legislative Stance

John Phelan, managing director of the ICMP, stated that Australia is the only nation among 62 countries studied that is currently considering weakening its copyright laws to accommodate AI companies. Phelan alleged that tech firms are using 'strong-arm' tactics, threatening to withhold investment if their demands are not met. The ICMP argues that these companies are seeking a legislative solution in Australia to avoid the costs of licensing content, particularly as they face ongoing copyright litigation in the United States.

Evidence of Unauthorized AI Training

Despite industry claims that AI models are not trained on Australian content due to existing copyright rules, the ICMP provided evidence showing that Google’s Gemini can reproduce lyrics from Australian artists such as Kylie Minogue, G-Flip, and Nick Cave. Furthermore, the ICMP pointed to a dataset reported by the Atlantic in June that contains over 12 million songs pulled from YouTube, including tracks from Minogue, Cave, and Hilltop Hoods. Tech representatives, including Anthropic’s Jeffrey Bleich and OpenAI’s Adam Cohen, have argued that training involves viewing and studying information and that current licensing requirements are impractical.

Parliamentary Inquiry and Internal Debate

A parliamentary committee on artificial intelligence is currently reviewing the issue, with Labor chair Jo Briskey and Liberal senator Jonathon Duniam recommending that the government examine copyright settings while ensuring creators retain control and are paid. The inquiry has faced internal friction, with independent senator David Pocock raising concerns that the committee's position was predetermined by the prime minister’s office, an allegation Briskey has rejected. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously characterized the use of artists' work for AI training without compensation as 'theft'.