The “Proposal for a Law on Amending the Law No. 5846 on Intellectual and Artistic Works” (“Proposal”), submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (“GNAT”), on 11 April 2026 provides for an extended collective licensing system for digital environments and a separate licensing model specific to artificial intelligence.
New Definitions
The Proposal introduces into the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works the following concepts: extended collective licensing, joint licensing entity, artificial intelligence system, out-of-commerce work, and cultural heritage institution.
Licensing in Digital Environments
The Proposal enables collective licensing in digital areas where obtaining individual authorization is not practically feasible.
Within this scope, it covers online content uses and the digitization by cultural heritage institutions of works that are out of commerce or whose right holders cannot be reached. Authorized entities will also be able to represent non-member right holders.
Artificial Intelligence Licensing Model
Under the Proposal, the training, development, and commercial use of artificial intelligence systems are made subject to licensing.
In addition, the use of artificial intelligence outputs in a manner that competes with works or benefits from their economic value is also included within the scope of licensing. This obligation is intended to apply to providers for input use and to those who derive commercial benefit from such outputs for output use.
Joint Licensing and One-Stop Shop
Rights related to artificial intelligence will be managed by a single joint licensing entity established with the participation of professional associations. The system is based on the one-stop shop principle, aiming to enable users to obtain licenses through a single agreement.
