This article provides insight into the complex field of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on copyright law. This highlights an
evolving landscape where questions regarding authorship and the eligibility of
AI-generated works for copyright protection are at the forefront. This
examination explores different worldviews, regulatory approaches and their
increasingly AI-driven world for innovation, creativity and intellectual
property.
Introduction
Copyright is basically rights given to the other for his original work i.e.
original artistic, literary, musical, dramatic work. Although copyright also
protects software or coding of software as a literary work and AI (artificial
intelligence) is the part of it. Although AI was created through programming, it
is now capable of activities such as creating original works such as original
music, writing articles, lyrics, pictures and images.
In 2017, Google funded the Press Service Association's artificial intelligence
program to write local articles. In 2016, the novel "Konpyuta ga Shosetsu wo
Kaku Hi" reached the second round of the Nikkei Hoshi Shinichi Literary Prize in
Japan, but it was the first time the panel had received a submission from an AI.
AI-Generated Art and Copyright: A Global Jurisdictional Perspective
The art work that is created on computer is mostly created by giving input by a
coder or individual, but nowadays as artificial intelligence, machine learning
software's are developed they are able to create original work by themselves by
giving data input. AI explores data that are accessible in public domains so
there is a high chance that AI-generated work may contain some elements of
someone else's work.
If AI is given the right to own the work generated by him
and the work contains some obnoxious or defamatory content, it will be very
challenging to hold the creator or owner liable. But currently there is no
provision in any jurisdiction that AI can own original work created by itself.
So will such works get copyright protection or not? This varies from
jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
In India's jurisdiction, the copyright of an artist's work which is computer
generated shall be vested in the person who contributed the input, as stated in
section 2(d)(vi) of the Copyright Act 1957. The rest of the same method is in
the jurisdiction of many other countries such as United Kingdom, Hong Kong.
According to section 9(3) Of CDPA (Copyright Design and Patent Act of UK)
"In
the case of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work which is
computer-generated, the author shall be taken to be the person by whom the
arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken" by both
India's and the UK's legislation we conclude that the AI-generated work's
authorship is granted to the owner or developer of AI. The logic behind this is
AI will not come into existence without its developer, therefore the authorship
will granted to its programmer or developer.
On the other hand, the work created by AI cannot get any copyright protection
without any human intervention in the jurisdiction of the rest of the countries
and this is mostly found in the jurisdiction of the US, Spain, and Germany. In
this jurisdiction original work is qualified only if it has a human author. In
the United States, a clear precedent was set in cases like Naruto v. Slater,
commonly referred to as the
"monkey selfie" case.
In this case, a British
photographer called Slater requested copyright registration for a photograph
taken by a monkey, but the US Copyright Office denied the application, stating
that the shot was taken without human intervention. This case demonstrates that
if the US Copyright Office declines to protect works made by natural beings, it
is unlikely that they will cover works generated by artificial intelligence
(AI).
Navigating the Complexities of AI in Art: Copyright, Accountability, and
Challenges Ahead
The integration of artificial intelligence in the creative process raises a
challenging issue: the blurring of lines between artist-generated and
computer-generated content. Left unchecked, the continuous use of generative AI
in art creation can pose significant problems for both artists and the
technology itself.
Since AI draws from publicly available data, when an artist employs AI to create
artwork, there is a heightened risk of inadvertently replicating or closely
resembling another artist's work. This raises questions about accountability in
cases of copyright infringement: Should the blame fall on the AI, the AI
developer, or the artist who initiated the process? Determining culpability is a
complex and uncertain matter, contributing to what is often referred to as the
"artist's great tragedy" in the age of AI.
If AI companies are ultimately found to have violated the copyrights of
creators, it could result in numerous legal disputes in the years ahead,
potentially leading to substantial fines for the responsible companies.
Copyright Challenges and the Battle for Authorship
Currently there are only two ways to either deny copyright protection for a work
that is computer (AI) generated as in many jurisdictions like the US, Germany
and Spain. In 1991, a significant dispute reached the United States Supreme
Court in the case of
Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co.,
Inc. The primary question at hand was whether names, phone numbers, and
addresses from a directory could be subject to copyright protection. In this
case, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling, stating that "the products
of intellectual effort" are based on the creative abilities of the mind.
In a similar vein, the Australian case
Acohs Pty Ltd v Ucorp Pty Ltd in 2010
raised a crucial question: Does the HTML Infosafe source code qualify as a
literary work eligible for copyright protection? The court ruled that a work
created with the assistance of a computer could not be safeguarded by copyright
since it was not crafted by a human.
The authorship of computer-generated material can also be assigned to the AI's
programmer or developer. Many jurisdictions, including India, the United
Kingdom, and Hong Kong, use this strategy. In 2021, a "Suryast" artwork made by
an AI named Raghav, an artificial intelligence painting program, was co-authored
for the first time in India. This is the first time in India that an AI-created
work has gotten copyright recognition.
AI Art and the Debate Over Creativity Automation
In the field of AI art, a serious quandary has arisen: Should we use robots to
create art? This question makes us think about the nature of human creativity
and expression. Why are we enabling machines to do the things that make us
happy, arouse our emotions, and define our human experience? It assists us in
determining what is most essential in our society, particularly in a
profit-driven economy.
We wonder if making things more efficient and profitable
through automation is more important than preserving the unique value of human
creativity, emotional connection, and art. This dilemma goes beyond artificial
intelligence and art to identifying what is significant in a technologically
driven future.
Navigating the AI Pros and Cons: The Need for Regulation
AI offers both benefits and drawbacks. When considering the advantages, we may
evaluate its use in rational decision-making in the medical field, as well as
its correctness, impartiality, and durability. When we consider the
disadvantages, however, problems like as exorbitant expenses, increasing
unemployment, and the possibility for misuse against humanity surface, making it
a difficult matter.
The need for AI regulation is apparent. As AI's impact grows, so does the
concentration of power among a few firms that control AI. These firms play an
important role in the AI system and need serious government monitoring. Such
firms' misuse of AI might have devastating effects for society. Many nations
across the world have begun to take measures toward AI legislation, and India
followed this trend in 2018 by establishing two roadmaps.
The Ministry of Commerce, which founded the AI Task Force, created one roadmap.
The other is NITI Aayog's "National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence." The
specifics of these legislation are yet unknown, although experts agree on some
issues. According to a report, regulating AI applications is more crucial than
general AI regulation. Additionally, specific regulations should govern data
collection in AI applications where it can pose problems. Given that AI
technology companies are not self-regulating, regulatory measures are essential
to ensure the safety of the population.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the confluence of artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright law
presents a complex challenge that varies by region. The central debate revolves
around whether AI-generated works deserve copyright protection and who should be
considered the rightful owner.
A practical solution is to grant copyright to the individual or entity
responsible for enabling AI's creative output, similar to the UK's approach.
This approach incentivizes investment in AI technology while ensuring that those
who make it possible receive proper recognition.
In essence, the evolving landscape of AI and copyright emphasizes the need to
adapt legal frameworks to embrace technological progress while safeguarding the
interests of creators, innovators, and society as a whole. This ongoing
discussion and the emergence of regulatory guidelines emphasize the importance
of continued dialogue and proactive measures to strike a balance between
innovation, creativity, and the protection of intellectual property in our
AI-driven world.
References:
- https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2017/05/article_0003.html
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/48/contents
- https://copyright.gov.in/documents/copyrightrules1957.pdf
- https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-copyright
- https://www.wakeforestlawreview.com/2020/02/naruto-v-slater-one-small-step-for-a-monkey-one-giant-lawsuit-for-animal-kind/
- https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/499/340/
- https://www.legalserviceindia.com/legal/article-9895-artificial-intelligence-and-copyright-issues.html
Written By: Atharv Deotarse a 4th year BA LLB student of New Law College, Ahmednagar.
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