As generative AI shifts from experimental use to large-scale commercial adoption, India finds itself at a pivotal moment. The rapid rise of AI models trained on vast amounts of data has exposed gaps in the country’s copyright framework, raising urgent questions about how to balance innovation with the rights of creators.
At the heart of the debate is data usage. Generative AI systems rely heavily on copyrighted material—text, images, music, and code—to train models, often without explicit consent from original creators. While India’s Copyright Act includes fair dealing exceptions, it was not designed with AI training in mind. This creates legal uncertainty for developers and rights holders alike, increasing the risk of disputes as AI-generated content becomes mainstream.
From a policy perspective, India faces a delicate trade-off. Overly restrictive rules could slow AI innovation and weaken the country’s ambitions to become a global AI hub. At the same time, weak protections could undermine authors, artists, and publishers, eroding incentives to create original content. Striking the right balance will require clarity on issues such as text-and-data mining, attribution, licensing models, and liability for AI-generated outputs.
Ultimately, India’s AI copyright challenge is not just a legal one—it is doctrinal and economic. Policymakers will need to modernise copyright law, encourage transparent data practices, and create frameworks that protect creators without stifling technological progress. How India resolves this tension will shape the future of its digital economy and its role in the global AI ecosystem.
