CLA signs landmark agreements at IFRRO mid-year meetings 2026 June 8, 2026 By Becky Owen The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) has signed two significant bilateral agreements at the IFRRO mid-year meetings in Bucharest this week, strengthening international collaboration and expanding licensing coverage for rightsholders. CLA and Copyright Agency in Australia agreed an amendment to their long-standing partnership to include Generative AI Workplace permissions. The update enables the reciprocal use of each organisation’s repertoire within collective licences for businesses and the public sector in both territories and allows licensed users to copy published content for the purpose of prompting generative AI tools. The agreement marks a first for the sector, representing the first AI-related bilateral agreement signed between IFRRO members. In a separate development, CLA signed its first bilateral agreement with Copyright Polska. The agreement enables Polish works to be included under CLA licences for the first time, broadening the range of content available to UK users. It also ensures UK rightsholders can receive remuneration for the use of their works in Poland. Together, the agreements reflect continued progress in international rights collaboration and demonstrate how collective management organisations are adapting to emerging use cases, including generative AI. Alongside the agreements, CLA was also at the centre of discussions on AI licensing. Simon Hutson, CLA CEO, shared an update on CLA’s AI licensing initiatives, while James Bennett, CLA Head of Rightsholder Relations addressed delegates in his capacity as Chair of the IFRRO AI Licensing Task Force. CLA’s General Counsel, Serena Tierney, also contributed to the Legal Issues Forum with a focus on the Getty case and the territoriality of copyright, and also provided an update on UK policy developments during the European Group meeting. Simon Hutson, CLA CEO said: “Attending my first IFRRO meeting has highlighted the value of global collaboration and engagement with peers across the RRO community. These new agreements are an important step in extending rights, supporting rightsholders and enabling responsible use of content, including in generative AI.”
