Gov to set up copyright and AI reference group

The government is to set up a “reference group” that will tackle copyright challenges stemming from AI use.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the idea to set up a group came out of a series of copyright roundtables convened throughout the year.

The issue of AI works potentially infringing on copyright is still a live one, with several large vendors selling AI systems offering to indemnify users against legal action that could arise from their use of AI-generated outputs.

“AI gives rise to a number of important copyright issues, including the material used to train AI models, transparency of inputs and outputs, the use of AI to create imitative works, and whether and when AI-generated works should receive copyright protection,” Dreyfus said in a statement.

“The reference group will be a standing mechanism for ongoing engagement with stakeholders across a wide range of sectors, including the creative, media and technology sectors, to consider issues in a careful and consultative way.

“Engagement with a broad range of stakeholders and sectors will help Australia harness AI opportunities, while continuing to support the vitality of our creative sector.”

Dreyfus said the roundtables that gave rise to the reference group had enabled the government to “hear from more than 50 peak bodies and other organisations about copyright reform issues.”

The government has previously published “high-level summaries” after each roundtable; the latest of these is due “in the near future”, which may shed further light on the nature of AI discussions.