Copyright Act being reviewed to address challenges posed by generative AI: Centre in Lok Sabha

The Central government is reviewing the adequacy of the Copyright Act, 1957 to address legal challenges arising from the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

In a written response to a question by Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said that the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has constituted an eight-member expert committee to study the implications of generative AI on copyright law.

The panel has already completed Part 1 of a working paper focusing on the use of copyrighted content in the training of AI systems. This working paper has been published by the government and opened for stakeholder feedback, the response stated.

According to the Minister, the committee set up on April 28, 2025 was tasked with examining whether existing provisions of the Copyright Act are sufficient to deal with emerging legal and policy issues triggered by the application of AI.

Issues relating to authorship, ownership and copyrightability of AI-generated works are currently under examination and are expected to be addressed in Part 2 of the working paper, which is still under review, the Minister added.

The government said that the terms of reference of the committee include identifying and analysing legal and policy challenges arising from the use of artificial intelligence in the copyright framework, examining the adequacy of existing statutory provisions and making recommendations where necessary. The committee is also required to prepare and finalise a working paper based on its analysis for publication by the Department.

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