An international coalition of 63 media organisations has called on Australian lawmakers to maintain strong copyright protections amid ongoing debates over proposed changes to the country’s copyright laws. The coalition, which includes groups from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Spain, Greece, and Brazil, sent a letter to Australian MPs on Wednesday expressing concerns that the proposed reforms would weaken copyright holders’ control over their work, particularly in relation to the training of artificial intelligence (AI) models.
The letter warns that the suggested changes risk forcing copyright owners to forfeit their rights unless they actively opt out of allowing AI companies to use their content, a shift that the coalition argues would undermine decades of international legal precedent, devalue creative works, and threaten fair compensation arrangements. They caution that as content flows freely in a borderless digital ecosystem, any reduction in protections in Australia could have global repercussions and potentially position the country as a hub for copyright infringement.
Australia has historically been recognised for strong support of its creative industries, and the media groups stress that adopting a statutory licensing or “opt-out” model would erode this standing. They also warn that the move could set a precedent that weakens copyright protections internationally while benefiting AI developers without adequate returns to rights holders.
Technology companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic have lobbied the Australian government to relax rules to allow broader use of copyrighted material for AI training purposes. These efforts have intensified recently, raising concerns among creators and media organisations that Australian legislation might be softened despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s earlier assurances to preserve the nation’s robust copyright regime.
In July, Albanese emphasised that Australian creators must retain ownership and control over their work, stating that no company should be able to use Australian books, music, art, or news for AI training without explicit permission. He described unauthorized use as theft and highlighted the need for Australia to remain actively engaged in developing copyright policies that protect the country’s cultural and journalistic integrity.
A separate group, the Alliance for Intellectual Property, consisting of leading British institutions, also issued a letter warning that weakening copyright laws could turn Australia into a “content laundering nation” for global AI companies, complicating international licensing and deterring investment. The group expressed uncertainty about whether an Australian statutory regime could allow overseas works to be used without permission, potentially disrupting established licensing frameworks.
Australian author Cate Kennedy described the significance of copyright protections on a personal level, noting her works have been extensively data-mined by AI firms without compensation, underscoring concerns over creative ownership and financial loss.
The discussions coincide with reports that AI firm Anthropic has proposed an “opt-out” approach, where creative works would be used by default unless creators explicitly requested exclusion. However, the government maintains its commitment to uphold strong protections for creatives, reflecting ongoing tensions between the interests of AI developers and rights holders in Australia.