The copyright status of AI training data and the output of generative AI tools has become a contentious issue, with several lawsuits filed alleging copyright infringement. This includes a case where the Copyright Office refused to grant rights to an image created by an AI platform. The office has started receiving applications to register works containing AI-generated material and may use the public comments to inform future decisions on granting copyright.
Key takeaways:
- The US Copyright Office is opening a public comment period on AI and copyright issues, seeking to answer questions about how AI should use copyrighted data, whether AI-generated material can be copyrighted, and how copyright liability would work with AI.
- Written comments are due by October 18th, and replies must be submitted to the Copyright Office by November 15th. The comments may inform how the Copyright Office decides to grant copyright in the future.
- The Copyright Office was involved in a lawsuit last year for refusing to grant rights to an image created by an AI platform. A Washington, DC, court sided with the Copyright Office, stating copyright has never been handed to any work without a human involved.
- Several lawsuits have been filed alleging copyright infringement by AI tools, including by artists against generative AI art platforms and by authors against OpenAI and Meta for allegedly using their books to improve AI models. This has led to concerns over the usage of intellectual property in AI models.