AI-Generated Content and Copyright Infringement in India: Legal Challenges and the Way Forward

ABSTRACT

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an important part of modern society and is increasingly being used for creating content such as articles, images, music, videos, and computer programs. While AI has made content creation faster and more efficient, it has also raised several legal concerns, particularly in the field of copyright law. This paper examines the relationship between AI-generated content and copyright infringement in India. It focuses on important issues such as authorship, ownership, liability for copyright infringement, and the use of copyrighted materials in training AI systems.

The study adopts a doctrinal research methodology and relies on the analysis of statutory provisions, judicial decisions, research articles, and other secondary sources. It also briefly compares the legal position in India with approaches followed in jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. The research finds that existing copyright laws were primarily developed for human creators and therefore face difficulties when applied to AI-generated works. Questions relating to ownership, copyright protection, and liability remain uncertain in many situations.

The paper further highlights concerns regarding the use of copyrighted works in AI training datasets and the lack of a clear legal framework governing such practices. It concludes that India currently lacks specific legislation dealing with AI-generated content and copyright issues. Therefore, there is a need for legal reforms that clearly define authorship, ownership, liability, and permissible use of copyrighted material in AI systems. Such reforms would help balance technological innovation with the protection of creators’ rights in the digital age.