India's copyright framework not yet adequate for evolving AI, fresher legal framework needed, says FICCI official
New Delhi, August 10
India's copyright framework is not yet equipped to address rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technologies; there is a need for a fresh legal framework as AI advances faster than the existing legal system, said Monica Malhotra Kandhari, Chair of the FICCI Publishing Committee and Managing Director of MBD Group, on Monday.
"India's copyright framework is not yet adequate for rapidly evolving AI technologies," Kandhari told ANI on the sidelines of PubliCon 2026 on "Copyright, Research Integrity and Publishing in the AI Era," organised by FICCI in the national capital.
She said the pace at which AI technologies are developing has created a need to reassess the existing legal framework governing copyright and content creation, as the technology is advancing faster than the legal system.
"A fresher legal framework is required as AI is moving faster than the existing legal system," she said.
Kandhari's remarks come amid growing discussions around the use of artificial intelligence in content creation, publishing and translation, with questions around copyright protection, originality, attribution and the responsibilities of users and creators gaining importance.
According to her, AI adoption should not come at the cost of originality and users and creators must take responsibility for how AI-generated content is used.
"Originality should not be compromised while using AI to create content," Kandhari said.
Kandhari also called for a safer AI framework that brings together the government, publishers, policymakers and technology companies. Such an approach, she said, would help address emerging concerns around the responsible use of AI while allowing the technology to develop.
"A safer AI framework is needed, involving government, publishers, policymakers and technology companies," Kandhari said.
On AI-assisted translation, she said the technology can be effective, but human intervention remains necessary to ensure that translated content retains accuracy, context and emotion.
Kandhari further emphasised the importance of protecting copyrighted works used in the development and training of AI systems. "AI training must respect copyright, with proper permission, licensing and acknowledgement for original works," she said.
She stressed the need for a framework that can keep pace with technological change while safeguarding the rights and interests of creators and original content owners.
Hafsa Ahmad, Scientist D, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA), Government of India, said, "We need to come up with something very concrete for research integrity. And it has to be institutionalised so that the grassroots level implementation is possible."
Ahmad further noted that AI's use in scholarly publishing is inevitable and stakeholders need to understand what is acceptable and what is not.
"We'll have to admit that this is an age and era where the use of AI is inevitable. But we need to understand what is acceptable and what is not," she said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The point about AI-assisted translation is so important for a country like India. We have 22 scheduled languages and so much literature that could be translated, but if AI does it without human oversight, we lose the cultural nuance and emotion that makes our literature special. Human intervention is non-negotiable when it comes to preserving our linguistic heritage.
The government needs to move fast on this. While they are deliberating, foreign AI companies are training their models on Indian content without paying a single rupee in royalties. We need a framework that ensures Indian publishers and authors are compensated fairly. Otherwise, we will be donating our intellectual property to the world for free.
"Originality should not be compromised" - this is the key line. AI is a tool, not a replacement for human creativity. In India, we have such a rich tradition of storytelling and knowledge creation. We should use AI to amplify our voices, not dilute them. The policymakers need to work with publishers and creators to ensure this balance.
Interesting to see India grappling with this too. The US is still figuring out its own AI copyright framework. The multi-stakeholder approach the FICCI official is suggesting makes a lot of sense - you need publishers, tech companies, and government at the same table. Better to build the framework collaboratively before the problems become unmanageable.
I appreciate that they are not demonizing AI but instead calling for a responsible framework. The reality is AI is here to stay, and using it for translation or content creation can actually help make education more accessible in rural India. But as
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