OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is calling for significant reforms to U.S. copyright law that would grant AI developers the ability to utilize copyrighted works without requiring permission or compensation. This proposal, outlined in a policy submission to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) last March 13, has ignited fierce opposition from musicians, actors, and other creative professionals.

The submission arrives as part of OpenAI’s response to the Trump administration’s call for input on a national AI Action Plan. OpenAI, along with Google, has presented detailed policy frameworks that, if implemented, could fundamentally alter copyright protections for music rightsholders and other content creators. The proposals have triggered alarm across the creative industries, prompting an organized pushback from artists, including Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, and Bette Midler, who have joined a coalition of Hollywood figures in opposing the changes.

In its submission, OpenAI underscores the importance of “fair use” in the context of AI development, arguing that allowing AI models to train on copyrighted content without restrictions is not just about maintaining American competitiveness — it is a matter of national security. The company warns that without such access, China could gain a decisive advantage in AI advancement. “Applying the fair use doctrine to AI is not only a matter of American competitiveness — it’s a matter of national security,” the OpenAI document states. It further contends that China’s AI developers enjoy unrestricted access to data, including copyrighted material, which gives them an edge in the global race for AI supremacy.

“Given concerted state support for critical industries and infrastructure projects, there’s little doubt that the PRC’s AI developers will enjoy unfettered access to data — including copyrighted data — that will improve their models. If the PRC’s developers have unfettered access to data and American companies are left without fair use access, the race for AI is effectively over. America loses, as does the success of democratic AI.”

While OpenAI frames its argument around national security and technological leadership, its language also suggests that existing copyright laws may currently restrict the company’s ability to train AI models as it sees fit. This implicit acknowledgment could bolster the case of copyright advocates arguing that AI companies are seeking new legal protections to engage in practices that might not be permissible under current law.

Google, another AI powerhouse, has echoed OpenAI’s stance, albeit in less urgent terms. The tech giant asserts that “balanced copyright rules, such as fair use and text-and-data mining exceptions, have been critical to enabling AI systems to learn from prior knowledge and publicly available data, unlocking scientific and social advances.”

A Google spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s position in a statement: “We support America’s existing fair use framework, and we’re confident that current copyright law enables AI innovation. Google’s submission warns that restrictive copyright laws could hinder AI advancements by creating unpredictable and prolonged negotiations with rights holders, potentially stalling critical research and development.

In response to OpenAI and Google’s proposals, a coalition of high profile artists and industry professionals has voiced strong opposition. A letter signed by prominent figures, including The Beatles‘ Paul McCartney, Ben Simon, Bette Midler, Cate Blanchett, Cynthia Erivo, Ron Howard, Taika Waititi, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Mark Ruffalo, Guillermo del Toro, and Ava DuVernay, urges the U.S. government to reject any weakening of copyright protections.

“We firmly believe that America’s global AI leadership must not come at the expense of our essential creative industries,” the letter states, emphasizing that the U.S. arts and entertainment sector supports over 2.3 million jobs and plays a critical role in America’s cultural and economic influence. The letter further warns that AI companies are “asking to undermine this economic and cultural strength by weakening copyright protections for the films, television series, artworks, writing, music, and voices used to train AI models at the core of multi-billion-dollar corporate valuations.”

As the Trump administration crafts its AI Action Plan, the battle over copyright law and AI development is poised to intensify. OpenAI and Google’s proposals reflect the growing tension between technological innovation and intellectual property rights, with lawmakers facing mounting pressure from both the tech industry and the creative community to strike a fair balance.

Whether AI companies will secure the legal leeway they seek remains to be seen, but the opposition from Hollywood and the music industry ensures that the debate over AI’s use of copyrighted material is far from over.