Sign up to save tools and stay up to date with the latest in AI
bg
bg
1

A new book looks at the past and future of copyright

Jan 22, 2024 - economist.com
The book "Who Owns This Sentence?" by David Bellos and Alexandre Montagu explores the complex history and current state of copyright law. The authors argue that copyright, initially a right for creators, has evolved into a privilege for the wealthy and powerful, with two major legal developments in the early 1900s and 1976 allowing companies to own copyrights and including computer software in literary works. They suggest that copyright is a significant factor in the modern wealth gap, with about a third of the world's 50 richest people deriving their wealth from copyrighted goods.

The newest frontier of copyright is generative AI, which uses pre-existing content to create new images, prose, and sounds. This has led to legal battles, with artists and publishers, including the New York Times, suing AI companies for copyright infringement. However, the future of copyright in the age of AI remains uncertain, with some experts suggesting that copyright law could slow AI development, while others believe AI could disrupt the current copyright system.

Key takeaways:

  • The copyright of “Steamboat Willie”, the short film that introduced Mickey Mouse’s character in 1928, expired on January 1st, allowing for new interpretations of the character.
  • The book “Who Owns This Sentence?” by David Bellos and Alexandre Montagu explores the complex history and implications of copyright law.
  • Copyright law has evolved from a right that favours creators to something more akin to a privilege for the rich and powerful, with about a third of the 50 richest people in the world deriving their fortunes from copyrighted goods.
  • The newest frontier of copyright is generative AI, which has led to legal battles over copyright infringement as it uses pre-existing content for training.
View Full Article

Comments (0)

Be the first to comment!