Federal Report Highlights Divided Stakeholder Views on Copyright and Generative AI

The Canadian federal government's report, "What We Heard Report: Consultation on Copyright in the Age of Generative Artificial Intelligence," reveals significant divisions among stakeholders regarding copyright protection in the context of generative AI. Conducted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, the consultation explored the use of copyright-protected works in AI training, authorship and ownership rights of AI-generated content, and liability issues. Cultural industry stakeholders expressed concerns about AI practices undermining copyright protections, advocating for robust licensing frameworks and transparency requirements. Conversely, technology industry stakeholders favored clarifications to facilitate text and data mining (TDM) and proposed exceptions to copyright for AI training. The report also highlighted the need for human authorship in copyright protection and discussed potential liability for AI-generated content infringement. Stakeholders emphasized transparency and labeling of AI-generated content, while also voicing concerns about AI's broader societal impacts, including job security and privacy issues. The consultation engaged approximately 1,000 Canadians and 62 stakeholders through questionnaires and roundtables. Discover key insights on this emerging issue by reviewing this Law360 Canada article.