Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Video Games Europe
The European video-games sector, valued at €24.5 billion with a player base comprising 53% of the population, advocates for a balanced regulatory approach that protects human creators while fostering AI-driven innovation.
Generative AI tools should be classified as creative aids, meaning content remains eligible for copyright protection as long as it reflects the original choices of a human author.
The industry supports the existing text-and-data-mining exceptions within the EU’s DSM Copyright Directive as the appropriate legal framework for training AI models, opposing any new legislation that could create market uncertainty.
Regulatory frameworks should adopt a risk-based approach, exempting low-risk applications like internal foundation models for short dialogue from mandatory transparency or labeling requirements.
Mandatory disclosure and labeling obligations should be limited to avoid compromising trade secrets, imposing disproportionate costs on developers, or addressing contexts where players already expect AI-assisted content.
The sector emphasizes the need for international cooperation to harmonize global standards, ensuring that the balance between technological advancement and creator rights is maintained across borders.
The European video-games sector, valued at €24.5 billion with a player base comprising 53% of the population, advocates for a balanced regulatory approach that protects human creators while fostering AI-driven innovation.
Generative AI tools should be classified as creative aids, meaning content remains eligible for copyright protection as long as it reflects the original choices of a human author.
The industry supports the existing text-and-data-mining exceptions within the EU’s DSM Copyright Directive as the appropriate legal framework for training AI models, opposing any new legislation that could create market uncertainty.
Regulatory frameworks should adopt a risk-based approach, exempting low-risk applications like internal foundation models for short dialogue from mandatory transparency or labeling requirements.
Mandatory disclosure and labeling obligations should be limited to avoid compromising trade secrets, imposing disproportionate costs on developers, or addressing contexts where players already expect AI-assisted content.
The sector emphasizes the need for international cooperation to harmonize global standards, ensuring that the balance between technological advancement and creator rights is maintained across borders.