Open Access & Copyright in the age of AI: Open Access Week 2025-10-16

In an age when artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we access, create, and share knowledge, it becomes crucial to reflect on the evolving relationship between Open Access and copyright. As AI systems become increasingly sophisticated in searching, analysing, and generating academic content, they offer new opportunities for research dissemination—but also raise complex legal and ethical challenges concerning authors’ rights and the equitable access to information.

These topics were explored during the workshop Open Access & Copyright in the Age of AI, organized by Bocconi Library & Archives and Hertie School Library within the framework of the International Open Access Week 2025, in collaboration with the CIVICA university network.

 

The event featured three keynote presentations: Christopher Landes (Hertie School) discussed how AI is transforming the way we search for, analyse, and publish academic literature; Christine Daoutis (University College London) addressed the implications of copyright in the age of AI for academic researchers; and Nicola Lucchi (Pompeu Fabra University) examined the copyright challenges related to AI training and the notion of lawful use.

The workshop concluded with a round table discussion involving Nicolò Cavalli (Bocconi University), Joanna Bryson (Hertie School), and Paola Corti (SPARC Europe), who reflected on the balance between innovation, legal frameworks, and the principles of open science in an AI-driven research environment.