India mulls blanket licence to let AI developers use copyrighted content

A government-appointed committee has recommended introducing a mandatory blanket licence that would allow artificial intelligence developers to use all legally accessed copyright-protected works for training their systems. The proposal has been released for public consultation.

Under the framework suggested by the panel, the licence would be paired with a statutory remuneration right to ensure copyright owners are compensated for the use of their material.

The recommendations form part of a working paper issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which has invited stakeholders to submit their views.

Recognising the growing need for deliberations on emerging issues pertaining to AI (artificial intelligence) systems and copyright, the DPIIT formed a committee on April 28, 2025. The eight-member panel was headed by additional secretary Himani Pande. It also includes legal experts and representatives from industry and academia.

The committee was tasked with identifying the issues raised by AI systems, examining the existing regulatory framework, assessing its adequacy, and recommending changes if necessary, as well as preparing a working paper for consultation with stakeholders.

The committee has prepared the working paper- part 1, which was released by the department in the public domain on December 8. It has sought feedback and views of all concerned stakeholders within 30 days. "With a majority view, the committee decided to recommend a mandatory blanket licence in favour of AI developers for the use of all lawfully accessed copyright-protected works in the training of AI Systems, accompanied by a statutory remuneration right for the copyright holders," the paper said.

Under this framework, it said, the rights holders will not have the option to withhold their works from use in the training of AI Systems. "By preserving the right of the copyright owners to receive royalties and administering it through a single umbrella organisation made by the rights holders and designated by the government, the model aims to provide easy access to content for AI Developers for AI Training, simplify licensing procedures, reduce transaction costs, and ensure fair compensation for rightsholders," it added.

This hybrid model also offers a single window for AI developers to gain access to copyrighted works for AI training, it said.

According to the paper, Generative AI has immense potential to transform the world for the better, underscoring the need for a regulatory environment that supports its development. However, the processes by which the AI systems are trained, often using copyrighted materials without authorisation from copyright holders and the nature of the outputs that they generate, have sparked an important debate around copyright law.

It said that the central challenge lies in how to protect the copyright in the underlying human-created works, without stifling technological advancement. "To address this, a balanced regulatory architecture is required to preserve the integrity of the creative ecosystem in the country while encouraging AI innovation," it said.

Further, it said that the committee recognised that access to large volumes of data and high-quality data is crucial for AI development.

(With PTI inputs)