Directive (European Union)
EU Copyright Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/790)
Directive (EU) 2019/790 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market is the EU's main copyright law for online uses. Adopted on 17 April 2019, it includes the text and data mining exceptions in Articles 3 and 4 that AI developers rely on, with an opt-out for rightholders under Article 4(3).
Last reviewed 28 Oct 2026
Facts at a glance
| Official name | Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market source |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | European Union (transposed into national law by each Member State) |
| Text and data mining for research | Article 3 source |
| General text and data mining exception | Article 4, subject to an express reservation by rightholders, such as machine-readable means online (Article 4(3)) source |
| Transposition deadline | 7 June 2021 source |
| Commission review | No sooner than 7 June 2026 (Article 30) source |
Questions people ask
- Does EU copyright law allow AI training on online content?
- Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2019/790 allows text and data mining of lawfully accessible works unless the rightholder has expressly reserved that use in an appropriate way, such as machine-readable means for content published online.
- When will the EU review the Copyright Directive?
- Article 30 says the Commission shall review the directive no sooner than 7 June 2026 and report to the Parliament, the Council and the European Economic and Social Committee.