# ‘A Vast Landgrab’: ICMP Weighs-In on Big AI’s Australian Copyright Battleground (EXCLUSIVE)

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/a-vast-landgrab-icmp-weighs-in-on-big-ais-australian-copyright-battleground-exclusive/
- Published: 2026-11-05T06:09:59+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T07:26:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Billboard
- Original article: https://www.billboard.com/pro/icmp-john-phelan-interview-big-ai-australian-copyright/
- Topics: AI, Technology

## Key points

- ICMP opposes Australia’s proposed AI copyright changes.
- Phelan says an opt-out system would not protect creators.
- The dispute could affect creative rights globally.

## Summary

ICMP director general John Phelan has urged Australia to reject proposals that would let AI companies train models on copyrighted material unless creators opt out. He says the plan would give technology firms broad access to creative works and weaken existing protections, with consequences that could reach well beyond Australia.

The debate follows lobbying by OpenAI, Anthropic and other companies for changes to Australian copyright law. Music groups argue current rules let creators control how their work is used; Australia’s parliamentary AI committee has said the law may need updating. ICMP represents publishers whose catalogues account for 90% of commercially released music worldwide, and Phelan says it has collected evidence of extensive copyright infringement by technology companies.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.