Clearer rules needed for AI content ownership, royalties

KUCHING: Clearer laws are needed to determine the ownership and royalty rights of content created partly or entirely using artificial intelligence (AI).

Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Abdullah Saidol said existing copyright laws mainly covered works created by humans, leaving uncertainty over AI-generated content.

“If a song, drama, montage or short video is created using perhaps 60 per cent AI, can it be registered?

“If it is 100 per cent AI and used again, who owns it and who is entitled to the royalty?” he said when officiating the inaugural Sarawak Media Workshop 2026 at TEGAS Digital Village here on Monday (Sept 21).

Abdullah, who oversees corporate affairs, information and the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (UKAS), said clearer definitions were needed to protect the rights of content creators.

He said the growing use of AI had also raised wider concerns involving altered material, intellectual property and responsible content creation.

Media practitioners, he added, must understand these developments as the technology becomes increasingly common in journalism, public relations and other creative fields.

“AI will stay, so we have to embrace it, understand it and determine how it applies to the media profession.”

Abdullah also encouraged the proposed Sarawak AI association to finalise its formation and contribute to the state’s digital development.

“The association can be part of the state’s digital efforts and help the government accelerate public understanding of AI and the digital economy, including among rural communities.”

The workshop, attended by about 150 participants, featured sessions on online safety, Sarawak storytelling, modern photojournalism and mobile journalism.

Speakers included Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Sarawak deputy director Mathew Manyin Rengga, Richard Ker Digital founder Richard Ker and mobile journalism trainer Mohammed Hazli Mohammed Hassan.

Photographers Zulazhar Sheblee of The Star and Muhammad Rais Sanusi of UKAS also led a session on photography techniques, editing and ethics.

Abdullah said future workshops could be simplified and brought to rural communities from Lundu to Lawas, where residents were increasingly interested in using digital platforms to market their products and improve their livelihoods.

“We cannot do this alone, so we have to work together to accelerate the people’s understanding of the digital economy.”