Panel proposes blanket licence for AI firms to use copyrighted worksNEW DELHI: A govt constituted panel has recommended a “hybrid model” for artificial intelligence developers, allowing them blanket licence to lawfully accessed copyright-protected works for training AI systems, which will be accompanied by a statutory remuneration through royalty to right holders of the intellectual property rights.“Under this framework, right holders will not have the option to withhold their works for use in the training of AI systems,” said a committee set up by the department for promotion of industry and internal trade. This is the first part of the recommendations, with the second one likely to deal with the copyrightability and authorship of genAI-generated output, including moral rights and attribution of liability for infringing outputs.The report, made public on Tuesday, has suggested a centralised non-profit entity designated by govt be made responsible for collecting payments from AI developers, with copyright societies and collective management organisation as members. The idea is to pay royalty, fixed by a govt-appointed committee, even to non-members.“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 govt, the model aims to provide an easy access to content for AI developers and for AI training, simplify licensing procedures, reduce transaction costs, ensure fair compensation for right holders. It offers a single window for AI developers to gain access to copyrighted works for AI training,” the report said.
