Artificial intelligence is making it easier to create and reproduce content, but experts warn Fiji’s laws may not be keeping pace.

From traditional songs and instruments to modern artwork and digital creations, local artists and musicians are continuing to face growing concerns over how their work could be copied or replicated using AI.

At this point, Fiji currently does not have specific intellectual property laws that address licensing rights in the age of artificial intelligence.

The issue will be a key focus at the National Conference on Information Technology, scheduled for the 27th and 28th of this month.

Industry experts, including Swaran Ravindra, Head of IT Training at FNU, say the absence of dedicated legislation is already affecting tech professionals and organizations.

“We have had some panel discussions where we’re regulators got together and we were talking about the absence of legislations and how it affects techies. We’ve been working very closely with regulators, TAFE, TFL, and also ISPs in ensuring that we also play a part in understanding what intellectual property is and breaches in intellectual property.”

Meanwhile, Lawmakers are working on new legislation, including a Data Act and Usage Act, but specialists stress that intellectual property protection must also be prioritized.

Prashil Kumar, Chief Information Security Officer at CYBER ACADS, warns the problem will only grow as AI makes it easier to replicate music, artwork, and other creative content.

“This problem will only grow bigger, mainly because its so easy now to create a replica of something. Someone has just invested so much time to create a music or any type of content and comes someone with AI with the intent to copy this materials uses AI and creates their own version and this is obviously not fair to the person.”

Stakeholders, including regulators, ISPs, and training institutions, are collaborating to better understand intellectual property breaches and prepare for future laws.

The conference will bring together academics, businesses, and policymakers to discuss AI, intellectual property, and other challenges shaping Fiji’s digital future.