In a speech delivered to the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), the Indian Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry stated that India’s current approach to intellectual property protection allows for adequate protection of works created by artificial intelligence. Therefore, there is no need to create a separate category for AI protection because the existing copyright and patent laws in India suffice for this purpose.

According to the minister, the Indian Copyright Act of 1957 grants exclusive economic rights to copyright holders in their works, such as reproduction, translation, and adaptation. Users of artificial intelligence-generated works must obtain permission for commercial use of these works unless such use falls under exceptions permitting fair use under Section 52 of the Copyright Act. As intellectual property rights are private rights, the minister added, they are enforced by individual rights holders.

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