Speakers emphasized that AI innovation and copyright protection are not mutually exclusive and that strong copyright is foundational for responsible AI development and long-term growth.

A coalition of India’s creative industry leaders from film, music, books, news publishing, and broadcasting held three roundtables in Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad to defend copyright in the era of artificial intelligence and urged policymakers to strengthen, not weaken, copyright protections.

The three core AI policy principles promoted are consent for training works, voluntary licensing as the preferred mechanism, and stronger enforcement including civil damages and criminal enforcement against infringements.

The New Delhi roundtable criticized DPIIT’s proposal for blanket AI training access at government-set rates, advocating maintenance of the current Copyright Act framework and voluntary licensing.

Voice of the industry stressed that unrestricted AI access to creative works amounts to theft and could damage investment, risk-taking, and the overall health of the creator ecosystem.

Prominent industry voices—including representatives from FFI/IMPPA, ISAMRA, IMI, PGI, IBDF, and regional bodies—stressed that unauthorized use of works harms artists, investment, and the diversity of Indian content.

The sessions, involving film, music, book, news publishing and broadcasting organizations, highlighted the economic scale of India’s creative sector, which EY estimates at ₹2.78 trillion and nearly 2.8 million direct jobs, with broader indirect employment exceeding 10 million.

Economic impact of India’s screen industries: a 2024 study by MPA–Deloitte found about ₹5.1 lakh crore in total economic output and over 2.6 million jobs, signaling strong growth potential under stable policy conditions.

Economic backdrop cited includes India’s media and entertainment sector valued at ₹2.78 trillion with projections to surpass ₹3 trillion by 2027, and the screen sector output of ₹5.1 lakh crore in 2024, underscoring the financial stakes of stronger copyright protections.

A Koan Advisory/Creative First whitepaper, AI in the Creative Industry: Deepening the Value Chain, notes that Indian screen industries already use AI tools to enhance filmmaking while preserving creativity.

The whitepaper emphasizes that AI is being used in filmmaking and content creation but must operate within a framework that respects creators’ rights.

Executives highlighted that globally, licensing deals between copyright holders and AI companies are common, and India should adopt similar market-based solutions rather than blanket access.