As AI training on copyrighted works becomes a flashpoint, DPIIT has floated a bold answer: a blanket licence letting developers train on all copyrighted works — with no opt-out — in exchange for statutory royalties paid after the AI is commercialised. Here’s what it means for creators.
Note: This is a proposal only — a DPIIT working paper, not law. It may be modified, partly adopted, or dropped after consultations.
What DPIIT is proposing
Amid rising concern over using copyrighted works to train AI, DPIIT formed a committee and released a working paper proposing a hybrid “One Nation – One License – One Payment” model. Its key features:
- a mandatory blanket licence to use all copyrighted works for AI training as a matter of right;
- the content must be lawfully accessed by AI developers; and
- fair compensation via statutory royalties to copyright owners — after the AI tools are commercialised.
What it means for copyright owners
Bluntly: owners would not be able to refuse or opt out of their works being used for AI training, so long as the content is lawfully accessed.
In return, the model promises:
- guaranteed inclusion in the royalty pool, regardless of copyright-society membership;
- no need to negotiate licences individually with AI developers; and
- statutorily fixed royalty rates, reducing enforcement and follow-up burdens.
How royalties might work
A centralised agency — including copyright societies and Collective Management Organisations — would collect the statutory royalties from AI developers and distribute them to owners. Rates would be fixed by the committee, subject to judicial review.
Much remains unclear, though: how usage will be tracked, when royalties become payable, how payments are distributed, and how cross-border works and developers are handled.
What creators should do now
Since it’s only a proposal, creators can prepare:
- Document your works and, where applicable, formally register copyright to establish clear proof of ownership and authorship.
- Register with relevant copyright societies to smooth future royalty collection.
- Use access controls (paywalls, licensing terms) — since AI developers could rely on the proposal only where content is lawfully accessed.
The takeaways
- It’s a proposal, not law — a DPIIT working paper open to change.
- No opt-out for owners — training would be a matter of right where access is lawful.
- Royalties come after commercialisation, via a centralised, statutory mechanism subject to judicial review.
- Prepare now — document, register, and gate your content behind access controls.
Frequently asked questions
What is DPIIT’s ‘One Nation, One License, One Payment’ proposal? A working-paper proposal for a mandatory blanket licence allowing AI developers to train on all lawfully accessed copyrighted works, with statutory royalties paid to owners after commercialisation.
Can creators opt out of AI training under the proposal? No — as proposed, owners couldn’t refuse or opt out; their works could be used for training so long as they were lawfully accessed.
How would creators be paid? A centralised agency (copyright societies/CMOs) would collect statutorily fixed royalties from AI developers and distribute them, subject to judicial review of the rates.
Is this policy in force? No — it’s only a proposal and may be modified, partly adopted, or not adopted at all after consultations.
Useful official resources
- The Copyright Act, 1957
- Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)