OpenAI and Anthropic Ask Australia to Ease AI Training Copyright Rules

OpenAI and Anthropic have asked the Australian parliament to rethink rules that block AI firms from training models on local creative content. They suggest a limited, conditional approval system instead. Both companies say they would consider conditions that support Australian creators and culture.

Australia plans to roll out AI and data center rules next year and has ruled out copyright exemptions. Under current law, US-based AI firms effectively cannot train models on copyrighted Australian content.

The two companies also link copyright policy to major AI infrastructure investment. OpenAI signed an offtake deal with Australian data center developer NextDC for a planned facility in Sydney. Anthropic last week became a partner on a data center in Queensland.

The Australian government faces pressure to balance the interests of AI developers and creators, who oppose the use of their work to train commercial AI models without permission or payment.