AI Policy Baithak

What do Indian AI startups need from copyright law to innovate responsibly and competitively?

- Should India adopt a Text and Data Mining (TDM) exemption with appropriate safeguards?
- Can licensing models such as pay-per-crawl or collective licensing ensure both data access and creator compensation?

These were the key questions asked at the AI Policy Baithak roundtable organised by Startup Policy Forum and Ikigai Law, and powered by Google.

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The Attendees

Founders and developers from India’s leading and emerging AI startups—including Sarvam AI, Invideo AI, StockGro, Frammer AI, Fluid AI, 5C Network, Content Lens, Puch AI, and others—who are building LLMs, generative tools, and data-intensive AI platforms. Joining them were global copyright experts from Google, including Ana Ramalho and Roxanne Carter, to help frame the legal and policy landscape.

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Key Takeaways

• Startups want legal clarity on AI training, and they want it fast.
• India must lead. Founders pushed for India to set the global benchmark by crafting a copyright framework that supports responsible, innovation-led AI development.
• Many participants backed a TDM exemption, with opt-out mechanisms as a way to balance copyright owner rights.
• Multiple speakers stressed the need for a sector-specific approach rather than a one-size-fits-all rule.
• Alternative frameworks such as pay-per-crawl licensing and collective licensing models were seen by some as promising, provided such models are practical and innovation-friendly.

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What’s at Stake?

With the Delhi High Court currently hearing a key case on copyright and AI, and a DPIIT-led committee expected to submit recommendations in the coming months, this is a pivotal moment for India to craft an innovation-friendly and equitable copyright regime.

Startup Policy Forum will continue to champion startup voices in this conversation—so that India’s AI policy is not just pro-innovation, but built with its builders in the room.