Google, OpenAI Urge Trump to Ease AI Copyright Restrictions

Google and OpenAI have jointly petitioned President Donald Trump’s administration to ease restrictions on AI training, with a particular focus on the use of copyrighted materials. Both tech giants submitted policy proposals advocating for a more flexible approach to artificial intelligence regulations as the U.S. government prepares its "AI Action Plan" by mid-2025. This initiative follows President Trump’s revocation of the previous administration's AI executive order in January 2025, signaling a renewed focus on AI regulation.

The proposals from Google and OpenAI underscore the necessity of loosening intellectual property barriers to foster innovation and maintain U.S. leadership in AI development. Google emphasized that "fair use and text-and-data mining exceptions" are vital for continued AI research, warning that strict copyright policies could impede progress in fields such as healthcare, scientific discovery, and economic development. Google also welcomed the Trump administration’s focus on artificial intelligence, stating that developing a plan to "sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance" is crucial for U.S. leadership.

In January, Trump unveiled a $500 billion Stargate Project aimed at strengthening U.S. AI infrastructure. This project includes OpenAI among major contributors, alongside other tech giants. The call for relaxed copyright laws comes as both Google and OpenAI face numerous lawsuits over the use of copyrighted material in training their artificial intelligence models. OpenAI, for instance, is currently embroiled in several high-profile lawsuits filed by authors and publishers accusing the company of using their copyrighted works without permission. Notable figures like Sarah Silverman and George R. R. Martin have joined forces to challenge OpenAI’s use of their writings in training models like ChatGPT.

Similarly, Google has faced accusations of using copyrighted content to train its AI models, including its AI-powered tools like YouTube's music recommendation system, which was shelved due to copyright concerns. Beyond copyright issues, both companies expressed concerns about the fragmented state-level regulations governing AI in the U.S. With more than 780 AI-related bills being considered at the state level, Google warned that the lack of a unified federal approach could create compliance chaos and stifle innovation. Google has called for a cohesive federal policy that sets a clear framework for artificial intelligence development, allowing companies to operate across state lines without facing conflicting regulations.

Google cautioned that while the U.S. currently leads the world in AI, this lead is not assured. Trump’s new executive order prioritizes maintaining U.S. global dominance in artificial intelligence and mandates that a comprehensive "AI Action Plan" be presented to the president within 180 days. This plan aims to address the fragmented regulatory landscape and ensure that the U.S. remains at the forefront of AI innovation. The proposals from Google and OpenAI reflect a broader industry push for regulatory clarity and flexibility, which they believe are essential for continued progress in AI development.