Pioneering copyright licence mitigates AI risk flying under the radar
Copyright Agency’s single licence offers legal protection for businesses using news in AI.
With the increasing uptake of Generative AI tools in the workplace, businesses may not be aware of the underlying copyright risk involved in their employees inputting third-party material in prompts.
Australian research conducted in September 2025 by Fiftyfive5 found that over the last 12 months GenAI usage has grown by 15%, with 64% of white-collar employees now using GenAI for work purposes. 75% of users expect their usage to increase in the next 12 months. Among users, 47% use third-party material in their prompts at least weekly.
Alarmingly, the research highlighted that most users don’t understand the terms of use of GenAI tools and licensing requirements around use of third-party material, raising ethical concerns and increasing the risk of copyright infringement for businesses.
In response to the emerging risks around AI use, Copyright Agency has worked with Australian news publishers to update its annual copyright licence, making it fit for purpose in the age of AI. Building on existing rights that allow staff to download, copy, share and store third-party copyright material, the one-stop-shop licence now includes permission for employees to input articles from Australian newspaper publishers into GenAI tools as prompts, and to share the AI-generated outputs both internally and externally including on websites and social media. Copyright Agency’s licence eradicates the need for businesses to seek individual licences with multiple publishers to gain permission for these common workplace activities.
“With so many businesses racing to integrate GenAI into their operations, many are unaware of the copyright risks they are exposing themselves to,” said Josephine Johnston, Copyright Agency CEO.
“We developed this licensing solution in consultation with news media publishers to provide a clear, legal pathway for businesses to use Australian news content as prompts in GenAI tools. It includes rights to use content from all major Australian news publishers, including News Corp, Nine, Australian Community Media and West Australian Newspapers. This is about enabling the responsible and legal use of AI in the corporate sector. It’s a solution that supports innovation and productivity while maintaining respect for copyright.”
This single, cost-effective copyright licence gives businesses the confidence to use AI tools in a way that is ethical, efficient and legally sound. By enabling real-time business intelligence through the compliant use of Australian news publishers’ content, the licence supports faster decision-making while helping businesses avoid copyright risks and reputational damage. In a rapidly evolving legal and technological landscape, it offers a practical solution that keeps innovation aligned with responsibility.
