AMPAL stands with Australia’s music industry on landmark copyright decision

A milestone moment for Australia’s music publishers and the songwriters and composers they represent. 

AMPAL stands proudly alongside the nation’s leading music industry bodies in welcoming the Attorney-General’s announcement that the Albanese Government has ruled out introducing a Text and Data Mining (TDM) exception into Australian copyright law. 

Almost two years ago, APRA AMCOS convened the first creative industry roundtable on AI, uniting the music community to defend the rights of creators. That coalition has worked tirelessly ever since to ensure that permission and payment remain at the heart of innovation. 

Damian Rinaldi, AMPAL CEO 
“This is a big win for songwriters and composers, and the publishers who champion them. By rejecting a TDM exception, the Government has made it clear that permission and compensation still matter in the age of AI. AMPAL has always believed that licensing, not exceptions, is the right path forward, so we applaud the Albanese Government’s decision to uphold copyright law and stand with Australia’s creative community.” 

Clive Hodson, AMPAL Chair 
“The Federal Government’s rejection of a TDM exception finally gives much-needed certainty to Australia’s music publishers, for whom the risk of creative theft was acutely felt. Creators and their partners can now move forward with confidence and continue to excel on the global stage.” 

AMPAL applauds this outcome and celebrates the united voice of Australia’s music industry in protecting creators’ rights in the age of AI. 

AMPAL stands with AMCOS, APRA, ARIA, NATSIMO and PPCA in opposing the Productivity Commission’s proposed AI copyright exception

If AI needs our songs to learn, then our songwriters deserve to earn. 

Giving billion-dollar AI companies a free pass to mine copyrighted music without consent or compensation isn't innovation, it’s exploitation. 

AMPAL CEO, Damian Rinaldi said: “They can’t build the future of tech by gutting the future of Australian music. Let’s not rewrite our rules to benefit tech giants at the expense of our treasured Australian songwriters.” 

This proposal threatens not only the livelihoods of Australian songwriters, publishers and rights holders, but devalues their cultural contribution and risks decimating Australia’s creative industries. 

Australia’s copyright laws are not a barrier to progress, they’re the backbone of a thriving creative economy. 

They protect our songwriters.  
They ensure songwriters are paid.  
And they reflect their right to decide how their own works are used. 

This proposal isn’t progress, it’s a shortcut through someone else’s copyright.