The Commission launches a consultation that could change EU rules on using copyrighted works to train artificial intelligence

The European Commission is seeking opinions on possible new measures in the field of copyright, with a focus on the use of copyrighted content in artificial intelligence, live-stream piracy, the remuneration of artists and producers, and the use of works in research. The consultation is open until 3 November and does not yet amend the legislation in force.

The European Commission has opened a targeted consultation on the future of EU copyright rules, placing at the center of the discussion the use of protected content for artificial intelligence, live-stream piracy, the remuneration of artists and music producers, and the use of works in scientific research. The European executive says that the current framework remains robust, but wants to determine whether technological developments and market changes justify additional measures.

1. The consultation examines the use of copyrighted content in artificial intelligence systems, including by providers of generative AI and other actors in the technology chain.

2. The Commission is also examining the fight against online piracy of time-sensitive content, especially sports broadcasts and other live events.

3. A third file concerns the application of the right to a single equitable remuneration for performers and music producers.

4. The consultation also includes the relationship between copyright and scientific research.

5. The deadline for contributions is 3 November 2026. The consultation is not a legislative proposal and does not introduce new obligations at this time.

The Commission presents the consultation as part of a broader assessment of how the current copyright framework responds to technological and economic changes. The initiative continues the work begun through the call for evidence launched earlier in the year and also draws on conclusions from studies and assessments carried out in related fields.

The subject with the greatest technological significance is the use of protected works in artificial intelligence. Generative models can use very large volumes of texts, images, music, and other materials in development and training processes, and the conflict between access to data and the rights of copyright holders has become one of the most important legal issues in the AI market.

At this stage, the Commission does not say which solution it favors and does not announce a change to the rules. The consultation is specifically intended to collect the positions of rights holders, providers of generative AI, and other parties involved before any possible decision on future measures.

Participants invited include holders of copyright and related rights, providers of generative artificial intelligence and other actors in the AI chain, intermediaries, collective management organizations, organizers of sports and live events, research organizations, national authorities, consumer organizations, and NGOs.

The second area concerns piracy of time-sensitive content. For sports events and other live broadcasts, commercial value is concentrated within a very short period, meaning that removing an illegal stream after the event has ended may have a limited effect.

The Commission wants to find out whether current tools are sufficient for sufficiently rapid intervention or whether additional measures are necessary. However, the consultation announcement does not specify which legal instrument might be amended, nor whether the executive is pursuing a new obligation for platforms or intermediaries.

A third subject is remuneration in the music sector. The Commission is examining the application of the right to a single equitable remuneration for performers and phonogram producers, a component of the European framework on related rights.

The issue concerns how income generated through the exploitation of music is distributed among categories of rights holders and whether the current system functions adequately amid the digital transformation of the music market.

The consultation also addresses separately the link between copyright and scientific research. In this area, the Commission must balance the protection of works with researchers’ need to analyze large volumes of texts, data, and other materials, including through automated techniques.

The European framework already includes relevant exceptions and limitations for research and text and data mining, but the Commission does not state in the current announcement that these will be amended. The question is whether developments in technologies and research practices justify additional intervention.

The consultation comes in a context in which European legislation on artificial intelligence and copyright rules are increasingly intersecting. The obligations laid down by the AI Act for certain general-purpose artificial intelligence models operate alongside the existing copyright framework, without replacing the rules on licensing, exceptions, and the rights of holders.

For this reason, responses to the consultation may influence the Commission’s future policy both in the field of copyright and in the application of rules for the AI ecosystem. However, they do not automatically change the legislation and do not represent a decision on the legality of training models on certain categories of content.

The Commission emphasizes that the Union already has a robust copyright framework. However, opening the consultation shows that the European executive considers that new business models and the development of technologies may require an additional assessment of current protection.

The outcome may lead to recommendations, non-legislative measures, or legislative proposals, but the announcement of 29 September does not establish which of these options will be chosen. Any possible legislative amendment would require a separate proposal and, where applicable, adoption by the European Parliament and the Council.

By 3 November, the Commission aims to gather evidence and positions from affected stakeholders. The issue is whether the current balance between access to content, innovation, research, and creators’ remuneration can be maintained or whether developments in AI and digital distribution require new European interventions.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/news/comisia-deschide-consultarea-care-poate-schimba-regulile-ue-privind-folosirea-operelor-protejate-pentru-antrenarea-inteligentei-artificiale