Publishers push White House to address AI copyright concerns

The publishing industry is taking a firm stand to protect its intellectual property rights in the AI era, with the Association of American Publishers (AAP) urging the White House to strengthen copyright protections as part of its Artificial Intelligence Action Plan. This intervention comes at a critical moment when publishers face unauthorized use of their content for AI training while simultaneously exploring AI integration in their operations, highlighting the tension between innovation and intellectual property protection in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The big picture: The AAP’s submission to the White House emphasizes copyright protection as fundamental to maintaining American leadership in global AI markets.

• The organization warns that weakening copyright protections could undermine American intellectual property exports and harm creative industries that contribute significantly to the U.S. economy.
• Publishers are navigating a complex landscape where they must protect their intellectual property while exploring AI integration into their own operations.

By the numbers: American publishers generate nearly $30 billion annually in the U.S. alone and are part of broader copyright industries that add more than $2.09 trillion in annual value to U.S. GDP.

What they’re saying: “The United States is an unmatched leader in both technology and intellectual property, both of which are key to global AI markets,” said AAP president and CEO Maria A. Pallante.

• During a London Book Fair panel, Pallante expressed cautious optimism about the current political landscape: “The Trump Administration was generally pretty good on IP. And the U.S Congress, which is predominantly Republican right now, has generally been pretty good on IP, historically.”
• She acknowledged challenges ahead: “The ‘X factor’ is that the tech sector literally lives in D.C. That is now a factor that now needs to be managed. Ideally, we want an end to conflict.”

Key recommendations: The AAP’s submission calls for specific actions from the administration to protect publishers’ interests.

• Strengthen copyright protections and foster partnerships between American companies in the AI space.
• Promote licensing arrangements that support both content creators and AI developers.
• Reject expanded fair use arguments that could undermine existing copyright frameworks.
• Condemn the use of pirate sites for AI training, which the AAP describes as “clearly illegal.”

Competing interests: While publishers push for stronger protections, tech companies are advocating for fewer restrictions.

• OpenAI recently urged the Trump administration to eliminate guardrails and lighten regulations applied to fair use.
• The publishing industry is currently involved in dozens of lawsuits seeking to remedy what they characterize as the tech industry’s theft of copyrighted material.

Why this matters: The outcome of this policy debate could establish precedents that shape the relationship between content creators and AI developers for years to come, determining how intellectual property is valued and protected in the age of artificial intelligence.