Generative AI & Copyright Licensing - One Nation, One License, One Payment Framework

In December 2025, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released the first part of a landmark working paper on the interface between Generative AI and Copyright. The report addresses the critical legal tension between AI developers who need vast datasets for training and content creators seeking compensation for the use of their intellectual property.

The "One Nation, One License, One Payment" Framework
The committee, formed in April 2025, rejected both the "zero-price" Text and Data Mining (TDM) exceptions (favored by tech giants) and traditional voluntary licensing (favored by creators). Instead, it proposed a Hybrid Licensing Model characterized by:

Mandatory Blanket License: AI developers are granted a legal right to use all "lawfully accessed" copyrighted content for training. Rightsholders cannot opt out, ensuring that AI models have access to diverse, representative datasets without the gridlock of individual negotiations.

Revenue-Share Royalties: Unlike traditional copyright which often requires upfront payment, royalties here are triggered only upon the commercialization of the AI tool. AI companies would pay a fixed percentage of their global gross revenue into a central pool.

Centralized Collection (CRCAT): The report proposes the creation of the Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training (CRCAT), a government-designated non-profit body. This "single-window" entity would collect royalties from AI developers and distribute them to creators, even those not part of formal copyright societies.

Transparency Requirements: To facilitate this, developers must submit an AI Training Data Disclosure Form, detailing the datasets used. 

The report signals India's intent to become a global leader in AI policy by balancing innovation with "human-centric" creative rights. Read more here.