Creative Workers Cite AI Impact on Earnings and Copyright
A new IFRRO report finds that 90% of respondents see revenue losses from AI, fueling calls for formal licensing frameworks.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Should copyright protections for creative workers be strengthened to limit unauthorized AI training?
The International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) released a report on the impact of generative AI on creative works. Developed with Eleonora Rosati, the study analyzes global survey data from 2,000 respondents to evaluate legal and market concerns.
Why it matters
The report suggests that large-scale unauthorized use of protected content is currently viewed as unsustainable by the creator community. It underscores a growing industry demand for formal licensing frameworks to protect intellectual property.
A survey of 2,000 participants found that 75% believe AI will displace creative workers. The results highlight a sector-wide consensus, with 96% of respondents rejecting the efficacy of current copyright frameworks.
The players
IFRRO
An international organization representing reproduction rights organizations that manage copyright licensing for authors and publishers.
Eleonora Rosati
A legal scholar and expert in intellectual property law who collaborated on the development of the study.
The details
The report combines case law analysis and market evidence to argue for three requirements: author control, the upholding of existing copyright principles, and transparency in AI model training. These conditions aim to balance technological development with the economic rights of content creators. The findings emphasize that unauthorized ingestion of copyrighted text and images disrupts the sustainable economic functioning of the creative sector.
Timeline
October 2026: IFRRO released the report on AI and copyright.
November 23, 2026: IFRRO hosts a webinar presenting the study findings.
The Tech Race
This study introduces new market evidence into the ongoing international copyright legislative debates. It positions the current regulatory climate as a pivotal point for defining whether AI development remains unfettered or transitions toward authorized licensing models.
Creative workers and publishers may soon see shifts in how content is licensed for AI training as entities move toward the report's recommended AI-specific licensing models. Over 50% of surveyed professionals anticipate that such standardized licensing would improve their current economic situation.
The takeaway
The study concludes that large-scale, unauthorized use of copyrighted works is not sustainable for the creative economy. Readers should monitor the November 23 webinar to see how IFRRO proposes to implement the suggested author control and transparency requirements.
What happens next
IFRRO will host a webinar on November 23, 2026, to present the findings of the report.
Further reading
For more on the changing landscape of model training and intellectual property, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
More information
View the complete study report and webinar registration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Publishing Perspectives.
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Should copyright protections for creative workers be strengthened to limit unauthorized AI training?
