Text and data mining exception (TDM)

Text and data mining exception (TDM)

A copyright exception in EU law that permits the automated analysis of copyrighted text and data, including for AI training, without needing permission from the rights holder, provided the material was lawfully accessed and the rights holder has not opted out. The TDM exception, set out in the EU's 2019 Copyright Directive, is central to the ongoing dispute over whether training large language models on copyrighted material without direct compensation is lawful. (See also: EU AI Act, Training data)