Creative Industries Rally To Protect Copyright In AI Era

Creative industry leaders from across India convened last week for a series of roundtables in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Hyderabad, calling on policymakers to reinforce copyright protections in the age of artificial intelligence. The discussions brought together stakeholders from the film, music, publishing, and broadcasting sectors, all of which form a crucial pillar of India’s creative economy.

The roundtables highlighted the growing urgency to safeguard intellectual property as AI technologies rapidly evolve. Industry representatives collectively stressed that copyright remains fundamental to sustaining creativity, investment, and employment, warning against any regulatory dilution that could undermine the ecosystem.

According to EY’s Stories, Scale and Impact: Unlocking India’s Media and Entertainment Economy report, the country’s media and entertainment sector is valued at Rs 2.78 trillion, contributing approximately 0.8% to national GDP. The sector supports nearly 2.8 million direct jobs and over 10 million indirect jobs, and is projected to exceed Rs 3 trillion by 2027.

Within this landscape, the screen sector alone continues to deliver substantial economic impact. A 2025 study by the Motion Picture Association and Deloitte found that India’s film, television, and streaming industries generated around Rs 5.1 lakh crore in economic output in 2024, supporting over 2.6 million jobs nationwide.

During the discussions, industry bodies urged the government to reject proposals that could weaken copyright protections, particularly concerns around granting blanket access to copyrighted works for AI training. Instead, they advocated for a framework based on three core principles: consent from rightsholders, voluntary licensing agreements, and stronger enforcement mechanisms.

A whitepaper titled AI in the Creative Industry: Deepening the Value Chain, released by Koan Advisory in association with Creative First, underscored how AI is already being adopted within India’s screen industries to enhance production processes without compromising creativity.

The New Delhi roundtable on generative AI and intellectual property was chaired by Sanjeev Sanyal, Principal Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister. Participants raised concerns over a proposal by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to allow access to copyrighted works for AI training at government-set rates. Industry representatives called for the proposal to be withdrawn, emphasising the need to retain the existing copyright framework built on voluntary licensing.

Speakers across the three cities maintained that innovation in AI and strong copyright protections are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they argued that respecting intellectual property is essential to ensuring that AI develops responsibly while supporting long-term economic growth.

James Cheatley, Vice President for VOD, Digital Affairs and Intellectual Property (Asia Pacific) at the Motion Picture Association, noted that the roundtables demonstrated a unified industry stance. He emphasised that strong copyright serves as a foundation for innovation, particularly in the AI era, and warned that weakening protections could disrupt the balance between creativity and technology.

Echoing similar concerns, Abhay Sinha stated that India’s creative output should not be treated as free raw material for AI-driven business models. Sanjay Tandon added that unauthorised use of creative works by AI companies risks eroding artistic livelihoods and reducing diversity in content.

Blaise Fernandes highlighted that global markets are already witnessing licensing agreements between copyright holders and AI firms, suggesting that India should follow a similar path. Meanwhile, Nitin Tej Ahuja reinforced that respect for intellectual property remains a foundational principle across the creative economy.

Industry leaders including Avinash Pandey, Suresh Dagubatti, Supriya Yarlagadda, and Dil Raju also stressed the importance of enforceable rights, fair compensation, and policy clarity to maintain investor confidence and creative growth.

The discussions form part of ongoing engagement between industry stakeholders and policymakers, building on earlier conversations at the India AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi in February 2026.

As India positions itself as a global leader in both artificial intelligence and content creation, industry voices continue to emphasise that strong copyright frameworks will be critical to balancing innovation with creative sustainability.