CBA signs licence covering newspaper text in workplace AI

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has become the first major Australian bank to sign a Copyright Agency Business Licence that covers the use of Australian newspaper text in workplace generative AI tools.

CBA Chief Executive Matt Comyn acknowledged copyright's role in paying Australian creators and rights holders, and said licensing rights at scale lets businesses use GenAI tools.

Research by Fiftyfive5 for Copyright Agency in 2025 found 64 per cent of white-collar employees surveyed had used generative AI for work. Of those users, 47 per cent included third-party material, such as published text and images, in AI prompts at least weekly. Copyright Agency says the findings show businesses need clear permissions for this use of content.

Copyright Agency's standard Annual Business Licence already covers everyday copying and sharing of news articles, research papers and book extracts, for example in internal briefings, presentations and emails to colleagues, with protections and payment for rights holders.

Under the new GenAI extension, CBA staff can use Australian newspaper text and other eligible content in prompts for workplace AI tools, such as asking for a summary or building a new document like a PowerPoint presentation.

Licence fees paid under the agreement go back to creators and publishers, including local news media. The licence does not allow licensed content to be used to train, create or improve an AI model.

Comyn said: “Responsible AI adoption includes considering how we use content. This licence gives our people the right to use Australian news content so that they can maximise the benefit of generative AI tools to improve their work and better serve our customers.

“This is a practical step that shows innovation and the fair treatment of rights holders can be mutually beneficial, as we adapt to new technologies.”

Josephine Johnston, Copyright Agency CEO, said: “Journalism and other published content have extraordinary value to businesses, whether staff are sharing an article with colleagues or using it in a prompt for an AI tool.

“With the increasing reliance on GenAI tools, businesses need a way to ensure that they are using high-quality content. This licence ensures ongoing investment in the creation of that content, whilst providing a simple solution for businesses

“We welcome CBA’s practical approach and encourage other organisations to consider how their licensing arrangements support the way their staff work.”