News

The European Commission has unveiled its Digital Networks Act to modernise EU telecoms, speed up fibre and reduce reliance on foreign tech. The plan opens the door for future changes, and has drawn criticism from all sides.

Two major publishers, Cengage Group and Hachette Book Group, have moved to intervene in the Google Generative AI copyright litigation, seeking to represent publishers whose works were allegedly used without authorisation in AI training. Their involvement aims to strengthen the case by ensuring that publishers’ rights, licensing practices, and ownership interests are clearly and independently represented.

Kay Page will join FOCAL International as Managing Director from February 2026, bringing over 25 years of experience in audiovisual rights management, archives, and commercial licensing. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for FOCAL, with a strong focus on expanding events, training, and support for the global archive community.

WIPO will launch the 2026 edition of its World Intellectual Property Report, Technology on the Move, at a hybrid event in Geneva on 17 February 2026, bringing together policymakers and experts to explore technology diffusion and innovation-led growth. The launch will feature presentations from WIPO’s senior leadership, an expert panel discussion, and multilingual interpretation to support broad international participation.

Agence France-Presse and Getty Images have renewed their longstanding global content partnership, extending a collaboration that has delivered trusted, real-time coverage of news, sport, and entertainment since 2003. The multi-year renewal reinforces a shared commitment to journalistic excellence, authenticity, and wide-reaching visual storytelling for newsrooms worldwide.

A new European Parliament study explores how copyright policy should adapt to AI training, highlighting the economic importance of protecting incentives for future creative work. The research argues that sustainable AI development depends on fair compensation models that support creators, consumers, and long-term innovation.

From January 2026, Hamburg-based image agency plainpicture will join the Image Professionals portfolio while continuing to operate as an independent brand, strengthening its position as a leading pioneer of conceptual photography. The partnership expands Image Professionals’ creative offering while preserving plainpicture’s distinctive visual identity, exclusive portfolio, and long-standing relationships with photographers and clients worldwide.

The upcoming CEPIC legal webinar on 29 January will bring together photographer Robert Kneschke and his lawyer Sebastian Deubelli to discuss the appeal in the landmark Kneschke v LAION case and its wider implications for AI and copyright law.