Members of the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee have endorsed a report pressing for stronger safeguards for creators as generative artificial intelligence becomes more pervasive, approving the measure by a large majority ahead of a plenary vote in March 2026. According to the European Parliament, the committee wants EU copyright rules to bind all generative AI systems offered on the EU market, irrespective of where those systems were developed. (Paragraph 1)

The report demands that providers of AI services disclose when copyrighted material has been used to train models and ensure authors receive “fair remuneration” for such use, establishing transparency and compensation as central obligations. Industry and policy analysis prepared for the Parliament has warned that current text and data mining exceptions and training practices create legal uncertainty, prompting calls for clearer input/output distinctions and harmonised opt-out mechanisms. (Paragraph 2)

MEPs also urged steps to safeguard media plurality, warning that certain AI systems risk concentrating attention and revenues by selectively harvesting online content. The committee proposes that news organisations be granted “full control over the use of content” for AI training and the right to refuse inclusion, coupled with mechanisms to secure “adequate compensation” where their material is exploited. (Paragraph 3)

Speaking in the committee, German People’s Party MEP Axel Foss framed the initiative as a balance between technological progress and intellectual-property protection, saying: "Our goal is to support innovation by defending the fundamental principles of intellectual property." He added that "clear, enforceable rules are key to guaranteeing Europe’s technological dominance." Those remarks underscored the report’s effort to reconcile support for AI with enforceable rights for creators. (Paragraph 4)

The committee’s move follows months of study and debate. A European Parliament-commissioned analysis highlighted the mismatch between how generative AI is trained and the contours of EU copyright law, and research released last year found uncertainty over whether copyright principles are consistently applied to training datasets. The committee’s recommendations build on those findings and on the 2024 EU law that obliges AI systems to respect copyright, urging stronger enforcement and clearer licensing frameworks. (Paragraph 5)

Parliamentary questions from several MEPs have amplified concerns about AI’s impact on music and other creative sectors, and the European Commission has signalled forthcoming measures including transparency obligations and an AI strategy for cultural and creative industries. The committee’s report now proceeds to the full Parliament, where MEPs will vote on whether to adopt the proposed safeguards and require providers operating in the EU to comply. (Paragraph 6)

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Source: Noah Wire Services