On 29 September 2026, the European Commission launched a targeted consultation seeking feedback on challenges and options for future measures to support technology’s impact, including artificial intelligence, on the effective protection of copyright. The initiative explores whether the current EU copyright framework may require additional measures in light of ongoing technological and market developments affecting creative works and innovation.
The consultation arrives at a particularly significant moment when, across jurisdictions, policymakers, courts, rightsholders, and tech companies increasingly face questions about using copyright-protected content to develop generative AI systems. Legal disputes over AI training practices, the scope of copyright exceptions, and the allocation of responsibilities between AI developers and rightsholders have become central to the broader debate on governing emerging technologies.
Against this backdrop, the Commission’s initiative seeks to gather evidence and stakeholders’ views on several issues that have gained increasing prominence in recent years. In particular, it focuses on four areas:
- The use of copyright-protected content in artificial intelligence
- The fight against online piracy of content like live events
- The application of the single equitable remuneration right of music performers and producers
- Copyright of scientific/academic research
Feedback is welcome from a range of stakeholders, including copyright and related rights holders, generative AI providers and other relevant actors in the AI value chain, intermediaries, collective management organisations, sports and other live events organisers, research organisations, national authorities, consumer organisations, and non-governmental organisations.
Deadline for submission: 3 November 2026
For more information and to participate in the consultation, click on the link.
