Senators Introduce Bill to Require Disclosure of Copyrighted Works Used in AI Training

The Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting Act aims to bring transparency to AI training data

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and John Curtis (R-UT) have introduced a bill that would require companies to disclose the copyrighted works used to train their AI models. The Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting Act would mandate filing a notice with the Copyright Office detailing the copyrighted materials before releasing a new AI model, with civil penalties for non-compliance. The bill is backed by several entertainment industry groups but stops short of requiring companies to license the works used in training.

Why it matters

The use of copyrighted material in AI training has been a major point of contention between the tech and creative industries. This legislation aims to bring more transparency to the issue, allowing creators to understand how their works are being utilized. However, it does not resolve the underlying debate over whether such use constitutes fair use or requires licensing.

The details

The bill would require companies to file a notice with the Copyright Office detailing the copyrighted works used to train their AI models, before publicly releasing a new model. The Copyright Office would then be tasked with establishing a public database of these notices. There would also be civil penalties for failure to disclose the works used.

  • The Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting Act was introduced in February 2026.

The players

Adam Schiff

A Democratic senator from California who co-introduced the bill.

John Curtis

A Republican senator from Utah who co-introduced the bill.

SAG-AFTRA

A labor union representing film and television actors that is endorsing the legislation.

Writers Guild of America

The labor union for screenwriters that is endorsing the legislation.

Directors Guild of America

The labor union for film and television directors that is endorsing the legislation.

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What they’re saying

“While AI has the potential to improve our lives and change the way we work and innovate, we need a unified approach to implementing guardrails that protect the work and livelihoods of all workers, including artists and creators. Human creativity is the foundation of our cultural and creative economy, and it plays a vital role in shaping our society, our stories, and our shared experiences.”

— Adam Schiff, Senator (Deadline)

“Congress must help encourage AI innovation, but not without transparency and accountability. The CLEAR Act strikes the right balance by protecting creators' intellectual property while providing clear expectations for companies. By shedding light on how generative AI models are trained, our bipartisan legislation will help build public trust for emerging technologies and foster the best of American creativity.”

— John Curtis, Senator (Deadline)

What’s next

The Copyright Labeling and Ethical AI Reporting Act will now proceed through the legislative process, with a potential vote in the Senate in the coming months.

The takeaway

This bill represents an attempt to find a middle ground between the tech industry's push for AI innovation and the creative community's concerns over the use of copyrighted works. While it stops short of requiring licensing, the disclosure mandate could provide more transparency and accountability around AI training practices.