Thaler had attempted to register DABUS as the inventor of a food container and a flashing light beacon in 2019, but the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) denied the request. The ruling was based on the absence of any law that recognizes a machine as a creator. However, the case has raised legitimate questions about how to handle AI-generated material, a topic that is also being considered by US lawmakers in relation to whether AI-created art or other materials can be legally protected.
Key takeaways:
- The UK Supreme Court has ruled that AI cannot be named as an inventor of new products, stating that only humans or companies can be considered creators under the law.
- The court denied a petition from Stephen Thaler, founder of the AI system DABUS, who wanted to register his AI as the inventor of a food container and a flashing light beacon.
- This decision aligns with a similar one made in the US, where Thaler also lost an appeal to claim AI as an inventor. The US Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
- Despite these rulings, both the UK and US are grappling with how to deal with AI-generated material, including whether it can be given protection under the law.