The Indian government has granted stakeholders an additional 30 days to provide their input on a crucial policy framework that seeks to define the relationship between generative artificial intelligence and copyright law. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) announced the extension, moving the final deadline for public consultation to February 6, 2026.
Deadline Extended for Comprehensive Stakeholder Analysis
In an official notice shared on the social media platform X, the DPIIT stated that the extension was granted to ensure a comprehensive analysis by all concerned parties. The department is seeking comments and suggestions on the "Generative AI & Copyright - Part I" working paper, which was initially published on December 9, 2025.
The move highlights the government's intent to gather diverse perspectives before finalizing rules that could significantly impact the burgeoning AI industry in India. The extended timeline allows technology companies, legal experts, content creators, and other stakeholders more room to examine the proposals and formulate detailed responses.
Key Proposals in the AI Copyright Working Paper
The first part of the working paper, released late last year, outlines the government's preliminary thinking on how existing copyright statutes should apply to the training and commercial use of generative AI models. A central and potentially groundbreaking proposal under consideration is the formation of a committee to prescribe a royalty rate.
This royalty would be calculated as a percentage of an AI company's global revenue and would be obligated only upon the commercialisation of an AI model. According to reports, this mechanism is designed to create a streamlined process for AI development. Once the royalty is paid, AI firms operating in India would gain the legal ability to use any publicly available copyrighted content for training their models without needing to seek prior, individual consent from each rights holder.
Implications for the AI Industry and Content Creators
This proposed framework attempts to strike a balance between fostering innovation in the AI sector and protecting the rights of copyright owners. For AI companies, a clear, statutory licensing system could reduce legal uncertainty and the risk of litigation, potentially accelerating model development. For artists, writers, musicians, and other creators, the royalty model promises a form of compensation for the use of their work in training datasets that power commercial AI products.
The DPIIT's call for feedback is a critical step in shaping this policy. The department's notice explicitly invites inputs from all interested stakeholders, emphasizing the need for a well-rounded perspective on this complex issue at the intersection of technology and intellectual property law.
