Microsoft, AWS, Adobe Seek Copyright Clarity for AI Training in India
When Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and Adobe met with Indian policymakers this month, they pressed for a clearer rulebook on feeding AI systems with the country’s massive stash of publicly available content. The current copyright framework treats large-scale data mining as a gray area, so firms are left guessing whether their training sets are even allowed. The three firms say they’re committed to responsible AI, yet they argue that the uncertainty is choking the very innovation the law is supposed to protect.
The Business Software Alliance has jumped in, warning that without a legal way to process data at scale, Indian developers could slip behind their overseas peers. It’s a classic tug-of-war between protecting rights and keeping pace with tech.
At the heart of the debate is a call for legal clarity on using publicly available data for AI training - something India’s copyright rules presently restrict. BSA’s point is simple: if innovators can’t mine data at scale, “India’s innovators risk losing ground to global peers.” The stakes feel high, but the path forward is still fuzzy.
Central to this is a push for legal clarity around the use of publicly available data for AI training, which is currently restricted under India's copyright framework. BSA argues that without the ability to mine and process data at scale, "India's innovators risk losing ground to global peers." The group says a TDM exception, already implemented in jurisdictions like the EU and Japan, would help India's AI sector grow while ensuring respect for original content rights. The call comes as India readies its Digital India Act and operationalises the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, which lays out privacy safeguards for personal data processing. While the DPDP Act allows some scope for "legitimate uses," BSA is urging the government to explicitly support data processing for AI training under the law--arguing that a clear, risk-based framework would balance innovation with privacy protection.
India’s AI sector might struggle without clearer copyright rules. The Business Software Alliance, which speaks for Microsoft, AWS, Adobe and other tech giants, has asked the government to create a text-and-data-mining exception, saying the current framework blocks large-scale data processing. Their new Enterprise AI Adoption Agenda for India links legal certainty to talent, infrastructure and data, and warns that without it “India’s innovators risk losing ground to global peers.” In the short run that could mean smoother AI development across industries; over time it might help the country compete globally.
The report, however, does not explain how such an exception would be written or enforced, and it’s unclear whether policymakers will take it up. Critics may wonder if a blanket exception can sit alongside existing copyright protections, or how “responsible and competitive use” would be monitored. Meanwhile the push for legal clarity is putting pressure on legislators to juggle innovation incentives with creators’ rights - a tension that will probably shape India’s AI path.
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Common Questions Answered
Why are Microsoft, AWS, and Adobe lobbying Indian policymakers for a text‑and‑data‑mining exception?
The three companies argue that the current Indian copyright framework treats large‑scale data mining as a gray area, creating legal uncertainty for AI training. A clear TDM exception would allow them to use publicly available content at scale, fostering innovation and keeping India's AI sector competitive with global peers.
What specific legal change does the Business Software Alliance request to support AI development in India?
The Business Software Alliance is asking the Indian government to carve out a text‑and‑data‑mining (TDM) exception within the copyright law. This change would legally permit large‑scale processing of publicly available data for AI training, aligning India with jurisdictions like the EU and Japan.
How does the article describe the impact of ambiguous copyright rules on India's AI innovators?
The article states that ambiguity in India's copyright regime hampers AI innovators by preventing them from confidently mining and processing data at scale. Without legal certainty, Indian companies risk falling behind global competitors who operate under clearer TDM provisions.
What are the three pillars linked to legal certainty in the Enterprise AI Adoption Agenda for India?
The agenda ties legal certainty to talent, infrastructure, and data, emphasizing that clear copyright rules are essential for developing skilled AI professionals, building robust computing resources, and enabling access to large datasets. These pillars together aim to ensure India's AI sector can thrive and remain globally competitive.