Who is afraid of artificial intelligence?
Copyright protection, licensing and business models for publishing
Third Edition – International online seminar
Translation service (Ita-Eng/Eng-Ita) provided.
Artificial intelligence is now a stable player in the publishing landscape. Today the sector is called upon to deal with terms with two opposing and parallel dynamics. On the one hand, the emergence of new business models based on licensing agreements between publishers and AI developers; on the other hand, the increase of disputes over the unauthorised use of editorial content for model training, highlights the need for effective implementation of copyright protection rules.
For the third year the Italian Publishers Association, with the support of Ediser, analyses the intersection between artificial intelligence and the publishing sector with an international online seminar. The aim is to provide professionals in the sector with concrete tools to orient themselves in a constantly evolving scenario: a useful opportunity for those working in the publishing world who want to understand how to deal with the legal and business implications of artificial intelligence.
Three thematic focuses for the 2025 edition
The European and International Regulatory Framework
An update on the status of European regulations (AI Act and Code of Practice being discussed in Brussels), an analysis of key international legal cases and an assessment of their impact on the global publishing industry.
New forms of licensing
An overview of recent agreements between publishers and AI operators, from direct licences to new licensing platforms and a reflection on emerging models and opportunities for the sector.
Comparing strategies
An international panel to analyse concrete examples of the evolution of business models to the new context, with practical insights, operational strategies and visions being compared.
The seminar will be held in Italian and English with a translation service (ITA-ENG/ENG-ITA).
During the seminar, it will be possible to interact with speakers, ask questions and share reflections on the topics discussed.
Registration is subject to the payment of a fee, using the appropriate form to be sent to segreteria@ediser.it by 23 September 2025.
The seminar is coordinated by Giulia Marangoni (International Relations Office - AIE) and Cristina Mussinelli (Digital Publishing Consultant - AIE)
Contents
9.30 – 9.45
Welcome greetings - Andrea Angiolini (Delegate for Innovation - AIE)
Part I - The European and International Regulatory Framework and new forms of licensing
Moderation: Cristina Mussinelli (Digital Publishing Consultant - AIE)
9.45 – 10.30
The implementation of the European AI Act: what rules for copyright protection? – Giulia Marangoni (International Relations Office - AIE)
Throughout the year, the implementation of the code has seen the European content industry and Big Tech on opposing sides. Where are we with the implementation of the European AI Act? An analysis of the implementing measures for copyright protection and the next developments in the European debate.
AI training and copyright: from the Copyright Directive to the Bartz and Kadrey cases – Paolo Marzano (Professor, Luiss Guido Carli University)
While Europe is working on implementing the AI Act, the United States has issued its first court rulings on the use of copyrighted content for AI training. A reflection on the European Union's opt-out system, US fair use, and the evolution of the international regulatory framework.
10.30 – 10.45
Q&A
10.45 – 11.15
The rapidly evolving market of our robot readers: rethinking publishers strategies - Peter Schoppert (NUS Press - National University of Singapore)
While publishers are keen to protect their rights, and nurture the continuing development of a market for licensing content to AI companies, those companies have yet to face serious consequences from using pirated materials for which they have paid no compensation or sought no consent for training their large language models (LLMs). This is even more serious now that online traffic is becoming perceptible as chatbots are disintermediating search engines, Wikipedia, and traditional sources of online knowledge. How can the market develop in these circumstances? Should publishers define licences for their content for both LLMs and human readers? Which licenses could be designed, and what role for the emerging brokerage platforms?
How can publishers square the circle by adapting their licensing and business model to the new landscape?
11.15 – 11.30
Q&A
11.30- 11.45
Break
Part II - Comparing strategies
Moderation: Piero Attanasio (Head of Public Affairs - AIE)
11.45 – 12.45
International prospects for the future of books
A discussion between international players from different sectors (general publishing, educational publishing, academic publishing) on how to innovate their business models to turn the challenge of AI into an opportunity. The session will compare different strategic choices regarding licensing agreements and partnerships between publishers and AI players, highlighting advantages and critical issues and giving ample space for discussion with the audience.
Speakers:
- Harper Collins – Chantal Restivo-Alessi (Chief Digital Officer and CEO International Foreign Language for HarperCollins Publishers)
- Bocconi University – Riccardo Taranto (Managing Director of Bocconi University and Chief Executive Officer of Egea)
- Vicens Vivens - Jaume Vicens Barcelo (Executive Chairman of Vicens Vivens)
12.45 - 13.00
Q&A and Conclusion