# Labor weighs AI copyright shift

> Australia is testing whether AI investment can coexist with creators’ control over their work.
- Title: Labor weighs AI copyright shift · the Guardian | Shortify
- Summary: Australia is testing whether AI investment can coexist with creators’ control over their work. The fight is over who carries the burden: AI companies seeking…
- Keywords: copyright, australia, creators, openai, news, world, Labor, weighs, shift, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/16/pocock-says-labor-easing-copyright-protections-for-ai-datacentre-investment-would-throw-creatives-under-the-bus
- Published: 2026-09-15T21:29:11+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ai, copyright, australia, creators, openai, news, world
## AI access by default
Labor is considering a deal that would let AI companies use Australian creative work unless rights holders actively block it.
## Pocock attacks the tradeoff
David Pocock says the plan would favor AI companies over Australians who already own the content they make.

> The burden should not fall on Australians
## Opting out looks hard
The proposal suggests creators may need to digitally protect their work to stop AI training. Rights holders say that is not realistic for small creators online.
## Licences could stretch wide
One option would let AI firms train on unprotected online material after enough deals with businesses. Another would let industry bodies license whole categories of work.
## Government denies weakening rights
Industry minister Tim Ayres said forthcoming AI rules would not reduce copyright protection. Richard Marles said any tech deal must serve Australia’s national interests.

> in no way
## Creators push back
Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young and creative groups warned against letting big tech use Australian work for free, after earlier lobbying over reported datacentre offers.

> Every Australian deserves to get paid
## OpenAI wants barriers eased
OpenAI policy executive Ann O’Leary met Australian officials and said local model training cannot proceed unless copyright barriers are solved.

> the gating problem of the copyright barriers
## Ministers promise control
Michelle Rowland’s office said any copyright changes must provide meaningful control and fair compensation. Andrew Charlton said lost datacentres would be acceptable if artists are protected.

> if we lose some datacentres over this, so be it
## Key takeaway

The fight is over who carries the burden: AI companies seeking training data, or creators forced to block use of their work.