Public backs copyright exemptions to boost AI development

The public has widely expressed support for introducing specific copyright exceptions to enhance the Copyright Ordinance to boost the city’s artificial intelligence (AI) development, according to a document submitted to the Legislative Council.

The proposed copyright exemptions would apply to non-commercial and commercial purposes to allow reasonable use of copyright works for data analysis and processing during AI model training.

During a two-month public consultation, the government received 62 written submissions, including input from 24 copyright holders, as well as industry professionals, legal experts, and business associations.

Some copyright holders argued that exceptions should be limited to non-commercial use only, proposing measures to allow copyright holders to control the dissemination and distribution of their texts.

However, the government maintained that extending exemptions to commercial use would maximize overall benefits, fostering innovation and investment in AI development.