With the Law No. 132 of 23 September 2025, Italy takes a decisive step in the regulation of artificial intelligence. A comprehensive legal framework governing the development and use of AI systems has thus been adopted, in line with the European framework outlined by the AI Act (Reg. EU 2024/1689). The new legislation aims to steer technological innovation while safeguarding fundamental rights, significantly affecting areas such as intellectual professions and copyright law.
Index:
- A new regulatory framework for artificial intelligence
- Protection of intellectual professions and the fiduciary relationship
- Artificial intelligence and copyright
- Conclusions and practical perspectives
A new regulatory framework for artificial intelligence
For the first time, Italy has equipped itself with a comprehensive regulatory framework dedicated to artificial intelligence. With the publication of Law No. 132 of 23 September 2025 132the Italian legal system has taken a decisive step toward regulating the development and deployment of AI, aligning itself with the path set by the European AI Act (Reg. EU 2024/1689). The law, which entered into force on 10 October 2025, combines provisions that are immediately applicable with a broad delegation of powers to the Government for the adoption of implementing legislative decrees within the following 12 and 24 months. The objective is to ensure a responsible, transparent and human-centric use of AI: technology must remain a tool at the service of human beings and their fundamental rights. This approach gives rise to key requirements such as human oversight, system traceability, clear information obligations, and data processing that consistently complies with the principles of lawfulness, fairness and transparency.
Protection of intellectual professions and the fiduciary relationship
The law introduces specific provisions aimed at protecting intellectual professions, such as that of the author of this article, as well as those who benefit from them, namely readers and clients. For example, Article 13 provides that “the use of artificial intelligence systems in intellectual professions is intended solely for the performance of instrumental and support activities related to the professional activity, with the intellectual work that is the subject of the professional service remaining predominant.” It further states that, “in order to safeguard the fiduciary relationship between professional and client, information regarding the artificial intelligence systems used by the professional must be communicated to the recipient of the intellectual service in clear, simple and comprehensive language.”
Artificial intelligence and copyright
As regards copyright, the most significant innovation is contained in Chapter IV, which amends certain provisions of Law No. 633/1941. 633/1941The law now provides that: “Works of human creativity belonging to literature, music, figurative arts, architecture, theatre and cinematography are protected under this law, regardless of the manner or form of their expression, including where they are created with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools, provided that they constitute the result of the author’s intellectual work.”
The legislator thus introduces a targeted framework aimed at clarifying when and how works generated with the support of artificial intelligence may be protected by copyright. While awaiting the adoption of the implementing delegated decrees, the underlying approach is clear: human creative contribution remains central, but works produced with the assistance of AI may fall within the scope of copyright protection if they meet the ordinary requirements of creativity and originality. It will be particularly interesting to observe future developments in national and international case law, given that these principles reflect those set out in the European AI Act.
Conclusions and practical perspectives
Overall, Law No. 132/2025 seeks to mark the beginning of a digital ecosystem based on transparency, security and the protection of rights. Its impact on copyright, and more broadly on the businesses and professionals involved, will be significant, and close attention to the forthcoming implementing decrees will be essential in order to fully understand the final structure of the regulatory framework. In this evolving landscape, the support of professionals with expertise in intellectual property will prove indispensable.