ICMP says AI firms are pressuring Australia to weaken copyright law

The International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) has accused artificial intelligence companies of pressuring the Australian government to loosen its copyright rules. In October 2026 the organisation also claimed that works by Australian artists such as Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave had already been used to train AI systems without compensation.

ICMP represents Sony, Warner and Universal along with thousands of independent publishers across six continents. Its managing director, John Phelan, said AI developers were effectively telling Australian lawmakers that investment would not come unless the law changed. He said the companies were asking policymakers to "legitimise larceny".

Evidence of Australian lyrics in AI output

The industry has argued that its models avoid Australian content because of local copyright restrictions. ICMP countered with material showing that Google's Gemini could reproduce lyrics by Kylie Minogue, G-Flip and Nick Cave. Phelan also cited a training dataset reported in June that holds more than 12 million songs scraped from YouTube videos, including tracks by Minogue, Cave and Hilltop Hoods. Google was asked for comment.

According to Phelan, 62 countries have weighed similar legal changes, but none apart from Australia has adopted a new commercial text and data mining exception or narrowed exclusive rights. He said the world was closely watching Australia's decision.

A divided parliament

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in July that it would be theft if artists lost control over the use of their work in AI. Yet the Labor chair of a parliamentary AI inquiry, Jo Briskey, and its Liberal deputy chair, Senator Jonathon Duniam, have since written to him recommending a review of current copyright settings, while keeping creators in control and paid. Independent senator David Pocock questioned whether the position was predetermined after staffer edits appeared in the letter, a claim Briskey rejected.

Anthropic's special envoy Jeffrey Bleich told the committee the company was not dictating terms but had explained how existing law could affect its ability to operate in Australia, arguing that the entire internet cannot be licensed. OpenAI's chief of economic policy, Adam Cohen, said US fair use protects new technology, while noting deals the company has struck with publishers such as News Corp.

Phelan believes rising investment costs and US copyright litigation have left AI firms anxious, pushing them to seek a legislative shortcut in Australia. The outcome could shape how creative industries and AI developers settle licensing questions elsewhere.