DMLA Submits Response to NSF’s AI Action Plan RFI: Why It Matters for Visual Creators and the Future of Copyright

The Digital Media Licensing Association (DMLA) recently submitted a formal response to the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) as part of a national request for input on the development of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan.

The response outlines key concerns surrounding the use of copyrighted content for training generative AI systems. It emphasizes that the U.S.’s current copyright framework already provides a balanced and effective structure for protecting creators while allowing for innovation. DMLA cautions against introducing new copyright exceptions for AI and advocates instead for transparency in AI training data and the continued development of fair, market-based licensing agreements between rights holders and developers.

This is a vital conversation for our industry. At ImageRights, we work every day to protect the intellectual property of photographers and visual creators, and we recognize how significant these policy discussions are for the future of copyright enforcement, licensing, and creative livelihoods. As AI technologies rapidly evolve, the need to safeguard the rights of creators has never been more important.

Our CEO & President, Joe Naylor, submitted this response on behalf of DMLA in his role as the association’s President. His leadership in this space reflects our shared commitment to helping creators maintain control over their work, and to fostering a future where AI development respects intellectual property and the value of original content.

As always, we’ll continue tracking these developments and advocating for a creative economy where innovation and authorship go hand in hand.

We encourage you to read the full submission here: https://www.digitalmedialicensing.org/news/response-to-nsf?_kx=WWqDmgpuG6H43fUDoBQxzA.QZXM33