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Copyright protection for AI-generated work has always been a subject of heated debate among experts and governments alike. Now, in an effort to solve this issue, the US Copyright Office has initiated a public comment period until October 18th, during which regular citizens can share their views on AI and help address this ongoing debate.
This decision comes after multiple authors, visual artists, and source code developers sued companies like ChatGPT‘s OpenAI, as well as Microsoft, and Meta for using their original works in training AI systems without their consent. Additionally, the AI systems’ ability not only to use copyrighted data but also to mimic the styles of certain creators has exacerbated the situation.
Moreover, even news media outlets such as The New York Times are seriously considering legal action against OpenAI. This comes after OpenAI used web-scraping bots to extract information, even after the NYT modified its terms of service to prohibit the use of these tools.
The answers to 3 important questions
As per the Federal Register, the US Copyright Office is seeking answers to three critical questions concerning AI. First, it is exploring how AI should ethically and legally employ copyrighted materials during its learning process. Second, it is investigating whether AI-generated content can qualify for copyright protection, even when there is no human involvement. Lastly, it is delving into the matter of responsibility and accountability in cases of copyright disputes involving AI.
Furthermore, the Office is inviting public input on AI systems that imitate human voices and artistic styles. While traditional copyright law does not cover these personal attributes, they may intersect with state rights of publicity, unfair competition laws, and international treaty obligations. This aspect has gained particular prominence due to ongoing disputes in the entertainment industry, including lawsuits filed by comedian Sarah Silverman and authors Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey against OpenAI and Meta for using their works to train AI models.