One of the only things that is stopping AI from truly blowing up, is copyright laws. Agencies across industries have protected their copyrighted material, which, in simple terms, means that companies working on their AI models have access to content that is classified as open source or comes under the creative commons license. This is also why AI models tend to produce inaccurate results as most of the verified, accurate data is protected by copyrights.
OpenAI and Google have been going all out on their AI models, even more so after the onslaught of Chinese AI models. Word on the corner is that OpenAI has called on the Trump administration to grant AI companies an exemption to train their models on copyrighted works. This proposal is part of OpenAI’s response to the president’s AI Action Plan, which seeks to solidify America’s position as a global AI powerhouse. The stakes? Nothing less than maintaining U.S. leadership in the face of rising competition from China.
But this isn’t just about innovation—it’s about survival. OpenAI argues that America’s intellectual property system must evolve to protect both content creators and the nation’s AI dominance. “The federal government can secure Americans’ freedom to learn from AI while avoiding forfeiting our AI lead to China,” the company writes. Translation: without access to copyrighted material, U.S. AI models risk falling behind. And let’s not forget the recommendation to tighten export controls on AI chips to China. It’s a double-edged strategy: protect American innovation while limiting China’s access to critical technology.
Google, too, is throwing its weight behind copyright exemptions. In its own recommendations, the search giant highlights the importance of balanced copyright rules, like fair use, for enabling AI systems to learn from publicly available data. “These exceptions unlock scientific and social advances,” Google writes. The alternative? Lengthy, unpredictable negotiations with data holders that could stifle progress. It’s a compelling argument, but one that’s sure to ruffle feathers among copyright purists.
Of course, OpenAI’s stance isn’t without controversy. The company is currently embroiled in lawsuits alleging copyright infringement, including cases involving The New York Times and authors like George R.R. Martin and Jonathan Franzen. Yet, OpenAI insists that training today’s leading AI models without copyrighted material is “impossible.” At the same time, it’s accusing Chinese startups of copying its technologies.
