Press release: ECSA welcomes the European Parliament’s report on copyright and generative AI and calls on the European Commission to duly take into account its recommendations

Brussels, 10 March 2026

Today, the European Parliament adopted its resolution “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges” by an overwhelming majority of 460 votes in favour, 71 against, and 88 abstentions. We commend rapporteur Axel Voss (EPP, Germany), the shadow rapporteurs and all supporting MEPs for adopting this resolution – the result of a long-overdue, democratic debate on generative AI and its impact on copyright.

Recognising that generative AI systems rely massively on protected content exploited without authorisation nor compensation, the European Parliament calls for “an additional legal framework to clarify licensing rules for GenAI” to establish a functioning licensing market that enables the fair remuneration of creators.

As transparency is a fundamental prerequisite for fair remuneration, we welcome the calls to establish “full transparency” regarding the use of protected works in generative AI training, including through the establishment of “a rebuttable presumption (...) for any generative AI model or system placed on the EU market”. 

We further welcome “the need to clearly label purely AI-generated content” on digital platforms and protect individuals against manipulated and AI-generated deep fakes, highlighting that “digital service providers must have a clear obligation to act against this illegal use” of an individual’s likeness and intellectual property rights.

We now urge the Commission to duly take into account the European Parliament’s recommendations and propose without delay an additional legal framework that can finally safeguard and promote authors’ rights in the age of AI.

Helienne Lindvall, Songwriter and ECSA President, states: