‘Our Laws Will Spell That Out Plain as Day:’ Australia’s Prime Minister Commits to Copyright Protections In AI Age
Categoria: Musica
"No company should use Australian books, music, art or news to build or train AI without the artist's control, and that includes the artist's control of the price and value of their work," he said.
Por Billboard | 15/07/2026
SYDNEY, Australia — A nervous music community was put at ease Wednesday, July 15 when prime minister Anthony Albanese gave the strongest of assurances that creatives would maintain control, and the value, for their work in the age of artificial intelligence. During an address on AI at the University of Sydney, the nation’s leader gave assurance that tech companies would not have the right to copyright-protected content, including music, to train AI “without the artist’s control.” “Australian writers, musicians, artists and journalists must retain ownership and control of their work,” he remarked. “Our laws will spell that out plain as day. An artist’s creative endeavor is their work and their property.” No company “should use Australian books, music, art or news to build or train AI without the artist’s control, and that includes the artist’s control of the price and value of their work,” he said. Australia, Albanese suggests, has the opportunity to take the lead on this hot button topic. “Nowhere do artists or rights holders have sufficient control of their work when it comes to AI training,” he added. “And that is why the best way to secure the strongest copyright protections for Australian artists is for Australia to be active and involved.” Also during his speech, titled “AI in Australia’s interests,” the PM unveiled a new Office of AI which, with effect from today, would design the new Australian standards, a functioning licensing framework built on consent and payment. With those words, the domestic music industry, which has lobbied tirelessly on the protection of copyrights, breathed a collective sigh of relief. “The prime minister could not have been clearer: Australian writers and musicians keep ownership and control of their work. Artists control what that work is worth, not the government and not a technology company,” remarks ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd. “Control of price, value and terms of use are what underpin a commercial licensing market,” Herd adds. “The artist decides what their work is worth and who may use it. That is how licensing works everywhere else in the world and it is how it should work here. In the prime minister’s words: anything less is theft.” The message to AI businesses “is clear,” she continued. “Now is the time to get on with licensing. Right now deals are being signed across music, journalism and publishing around the world. Australia’s creative industries are ready do business.” Rights organization APRA AMCOS echoed those comments, and applauded Albanese for his “clear and unequivocal support for Australia’s artists, creators and copyright holders.” “The Prime Minister has made it clear,” says APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston. “The future of AI development in Australia must respect creator rights, that permission and payment must be sought, and crucially, the creative economy must benefit from AI innovati