{
  "id": 8222395,
  "title": "Caution on copyright changes as Claude comes to town",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/caution-on-copyright-changes-as-claude-comes-to-town",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-16T07:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discovered",
    "slug": "discovered",
    "url": "https://portstephensexaminer.com.au/story/9351471/caution-on-copyright-changes-as-claude-comes-to-town"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Experts caution against altering copyright laws to accommodate artificial intelligence, as a major AI developer secures a significant Australian data centre deal. Anthropic has signed a long-term lease for the largest data centre project in Australia, operated by Singapore-based Zerra DC, which spent approximately $30 billion on the facility. The AI model Claude will reside at the site, situated over 200km west of Brisbane. This development follows a debate between developers and the federal government concerning potential copyright laws that could impede future AI investments. Musicians, such as session drummer Micah Heathwood, face challenges in the industry due to their content being utilized without consent to train AI models. Under Australian copyright law, any unauthorized use must be acknowledged. OpenAI's executive warned that the company could not invest in training centers in Australia under current copyright settings. Australian Society of Authors chair Jennifer Mills emphasized the need for copyright protection, as writers earn an average of $18,000 per year. Prime Minister Albanese promised robust copyright protection for creators, but a leaked document revealed Labor was contemplating an opt-out provision for rights holders, which would forfeit income. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young criticized the government for considering these changes, calling it a \"cop out\" and suggesting that big tech companies should seek consent and compensation from creators. AI expert Tony Walsh from the University of NSW noted that Australia's favorable tech reforms in social media made it an attractive target for lobbyists seeking relaxed copyright laws. The government must not cede to such demands, as data centre investments provide companies leverage in copyright negotiations, according to Walsh. Liberal frontbencher James Paterson warned of the need for swift regulation to secure national security benefits from hosting training centers. However, Professor Walsh argued that allowing overseas companies to train models in Australia offers no national security advantage. Copyright Agency chief Josephine Johnston stressed the importance of the government standing firm against unreasonable demands, insisting that technology requires creative output as much as it needs a conducive environment for training.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}