Congressman Moran, Congresswoman Dean Introduce Bipartisan TRAIN Act to Increase Transparency in AI Training Data

U.S. Representatives Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Transparency in AI Training (TRAIN) Act, legislation to address growing uncertainty around artificial intelligence and copyright law.

The legislation establishes a streamlined process that allows copyright owners, including musicians and artists, to request information about AI training data when they have a good-faith belief their work was used without authorization.

"This is about transparency and accountability, not picking winners or losers," said Congressman Moran. "For creators and small businesses across East Texas, that transparency helps level the playing field without imposing new mandates or federal spending."

"Congress has a duty to protect creators while fostering innovation, and the TRAIN Act does both by ensuring basic facts are available before anyone is forced into costly litigation," continued Moran. "We must ensure the rules keep up with the technology."

"As AI rapidly evolves and becomes more present in our lives, our laws must catch up - that includes preserving the dignity of artists and the authenticity of their work," said Congresswoman Dean. "Currently, there is no path for creators to know if their work has been used - without their permission and without compensation - to train AI models. The TRAIN Act would grant artists access to such AI records. I'm grateful to Congressman Moran, our colleagues in the Senate, and creative partners for their work on this bipartisan legislation."

Background:

The Transparency in AI Training (TRAIN) Act gives creators a simple way to find out whether their specific work was used to train an artificial intelligence system without their permission. This transparency gap has left creators unable to protect their intellectual property rights. While AI companies build powerful generative models, very few voluntarily disclose their training data, and current law does not require them to do so. The TRAIN Act addresses this problem by establishing a mechanism for copyright holders to obtain information about AI training practices. Drawing on procedures used in internet privacy cases, the legislation would enable copyright owners to seek administrative subpoenas.

The legislation does not change copyright law or assume wrongdoing. Instead, it reflects bipartisan agreement that transparency and accountability should guide the growth of new technologies, while ensuring that the creative work of artists, writers, and small businesses-including those across East Texas-remains protected.

The TRAIN Act is endorsed by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); SAG-AFTRA; Recording Academy; Human Artistry Campaign; Actors' Equity Association; American Association of Independent Music (A2IM); American Federation of Musicians; BMI; Copyright Clearance Center (CCC); Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE); Global Music Rights (GMR); International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States (IATSE); Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI); and International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM).

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