Hollywood and Bollywood groups are lobbying an Indian government panel to implement stricter copyright protections preventing artificial intelligence (AI) firms from using their creative works to train AI models.
The move underscores growing global tensions between AI companies and content owners as governments seek to regulate the rapidly evolving technology.
While Japan permits broad AI access to copyrighted material, the European Union enforces stricter opt-out provisions, and India is now debating how to position itself on the issue.
The Motion Picture Association (MPA), representing major studios like Warner Bros, Paramount, and Netflix, along with the Producers Guild of India, has urged the Indian panel not to dilute existing copyright laws.
Instead, they advocate for a robust licensing system to ensure that creators are compensated when their content is used by AI developers. MPA India Managing Director Uday Singh, in a letter dated August 2, warned that blanket AI exemptions could “undermine the incentive to create new works and erode copyright protection in India.”
Similarly, the Producers Guild’s CEO, Nitin Tej Ahuja, emphasized that licensing remains vital for sustaining the creative economy.
India’s copyright law currently lacks specific provisions addressing AI usage. A government-formed panel comprising officials, legal experts, and industry representatives is reviewing the law’s adequacy and will soon present its recommendations.
The deliberations come amid heightened industry anxiety following manipulated videos of a Bollywood couple circulating online, prompting a legal challenge against YouTube’s AI policies.
India’s film, TV, and digital content industry generated $13.1 billion in 2024, growing 18% annually since 2019, according to a Deloitte-MPA report.
However, the MPA warns that allowing opt-out systems or unrestricted AI access could burden studios and deter future investments. The debate mirrors similar legal battles abroad, including Warner Bros’ lawsuit against AI service Midjourney over unauthorized use of its copyrighted characters.
