AI models not exempt from paying for content usage, asserts Trump
In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), the Trump administration has been a subject of much debate and discussion. One of the key issues at hand is the question of copyright laws and their applicability to AI models.
President Trump has expressed his belief that American AI models should not be subject to copyright laws, stating that expecting AI companies to obtain permission for every copyrighted work used in training AI models is "not doable" and would disadvantage the US against countries like China, which he claims is not adhering to such rules[1]. However, it is important to note that the US policy under President Trump does not officially exempt AI models from complying with copyright laws.
Trump’s "AI Action Plan" itself does not explicitly address copyright issues but emphasizes accelerating AI innovation by reducing regulatory burdens generally[2]. Meanwhile, copyright owners and industries continue to insist that permission must be obtained before copyrighted content is used for AI training, and ongoing lawsuits challenge AI companies' fair use defenses to copyright infringement claims[1].
In Congress, some proposals support stricter copyright rules requiring licenses for AI training data, but these face opposition likely influenced by Trump’s public stance favoring looser restrictions to "win the AI race" against China[1]. Thus, the current situation under the Trump administration is one of legal ambiguity and political debate rather than a clear official exemption of AI models from copyright compliance.
Among the most important AI companies in the US are OpenAI, developers of ChatGPT, Microsoft, and chipmaker Nvidia. These companies, along with the broader American tech industry, are in fierce competition with foreign AI companies, including DeepSeek from China. The industry is hoping for regulatory changes to eliminate hurdles while Trump is in the White House.
Trump signed decrees to speed up the approval of data centers for the government, aiming to promote the use of American AI models in other countries. He has also expressed concern that AI could not succeed in the US if one has to pay for every article, book, or study material read. Trump argues that reading a book or an article does not constitute copyright infringement.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the AI landscape in the US is undergoing significant change under President Trump's administration. The industry is hopeful for regulatory easements, but the legal and policy issues surrounding copyright compliance remain complex and contested.
- The Trump administration's stance on artificial intelligence (AI) copyright laws remains ambiguous, with President Trump expressing his belief that AI models should not be subject to such laws, but the US policy does not offer an official exemption.
- The "AI Action Plan" under President Trump does not explicitly address copyright issues, yet the debate around copyright compliance for AI models is ongoing, with copyright owners insisting on obtaining permission before using copyrighted content.
- In the domain of policy and legislation, proposals in Congress for stricter copyright rules for AI training data face opposition due to President Trump's support for looser restrictions, aiming to provide an advantage in the general news of the AI race against countries like China.
