Only a single European rulebook can protect creators from AI

At the recent Formentor Literary Conversations, 28 key figures from across Europe’s publishing industry gathered to confront the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence. The discussions revealed deep divisions among publishers and writers over how to respond as generative AI systems reshape the creative sector.

To be sure, defenders of national oversight argue that distinct cultural and legal traditions require tailored local solutions that can adjust quickly to shifting domestic markets. Trying to align 27 different legal systems into one continental standard can feel slow and cumbersome.

Yet individual European countries acting alone lack the market scale to negotiate fair terms with global technology platforms. When member states construct separate copyright regimes and enforcement rules, multinational firms can easily exploit regulatory gaps. Authors and publishers in smaller domestic markets are left particularly exposed.

A single, harmonised European digital framework transforms 27 distinct markets into a unified trading bloc of 450 million citizens. That scale provides the legal leverage needed to require fair compensation for creators and clear standards for AI developers.

Europe’s linguistic and cultural diversity is a strength to safeguard, not a weakness to exploit. To preserve it, European policymakers must ensure that creative industries are backed by a single robust rulebook rather than fragmented national band-aids.