Commonwealth Bank has become the first major bank to sign a copyright licence for the use of creator and publisher content on workplace AI tools.
The deal, which was signed with the Copyright Agency, covers copying and sharing of a broad range of publications, including news articles, research papers and extracts from books.
It provides a simple and efficient way for staff to use material in internal briefings, presentations and communications with colleagues, subject to reasonable protections and remuneration for the rightsholders.
Under the new GenAI extension to the licence, CBA staff are able to use Australian newspaper text and other eligible content in prompts for workplace AI tools, for example to request a summary or create a new document such as a PowerPoint presentation.
CommBank is the first major corporation to pay for the permission to use Australian newspaper text in workplace generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools.
The licence fees paid under the agreement will go back to creators and publishers, including those in the local news media sector, to support ongoing investment in high-quality content.
CommBank chief executive Matt Comyn acknowledged the important role of copyright in providing Australian creators and rights holders with remuneration, while allowing rights to be licensed at scale so businesses can realise the benefits of GenAI tools.
“Responsible AI adoption includes considering how we use content. This licence gives our people the right to use Australian news content so that they can maximise the benefit of generative AI tools to improve their work and better serve our customers,” he said.
“This is a practical step that shows innovation and the fair treatment of rights holders can be mutually beneficial, as we adapt to new technologies.”
Copyright Agency CEO Josephine Johnston said: “Journalism and other published content have extraordinary value to businesses, whether staff are sharing an article with colleagues or using it in a prompt for an AI tool. With the increasing reliance on GenAI tools, businesses need a way to ensure that they are using high-quality content. This licence ensures ongoing investment in the creation of that content, whilst providing a simple solution for businesses.
“We welcome CBA’s practical approach and encourage other organisations to consider how their licensing arrangements support the way their staff work.”
