European Union lawmakers are pushing for stronger rules requiring artificial intelligence providers to pay for using copyrighted European content in their systems. Members of the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee adopted a report urging the European Commission to ensure that creators and rightsholders receive fair remuneration whenever their work is used to train generative AI models, and that there is full transparency about what content these systems rely on. They also want the news media industry to have explicit control over whether its content can be used for AI training, including the ability to refuse consent.
Under the proposals, EU copyright law should apply to all generative AI systems offered in the bloc’s market, regardless of where the training actually takes place. Lawmakers said this would close a legal uncertainty in how existing copyright and the AI Act intersect today, ensuring that protected works can’t be used without proper rights and payments. They emphasize that rightsholders should know exactly which works are being used and how, with transparency seen as essential for legal compliance and fair compensation.
The report also highlights the need to protect media pluralism — the diversity and economic viability of news organizations — by giving publishers control over how AI systems train on their material. Lawmakers want the Commission to explore mechanisms that allow creators and companies to opt out of generative AI use if they choose, and to establish collective licensing agreements that can serve both large and smaller rightsholders. They argue such frameworks would help sustain creative industries in the age of AI.
While this initiative doesn’t yet have the force of EU law, it sets the stage for upcoming copyright rule reviews scheduled for later in 2026. Advocates say clear rules on compensation and consent could help balance innovation with respect for intellectual property, though some industry voices warn that overly strict requirements might complicate access to data for research and smaller AI developers.
