In a landmark decision, a federal judge has sided with US government officials, ruling that a piece of art created by artificial intelligence is not eligible for copyright protection due to the absence of human authorship. The ruling by Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia has set a precedent in the ongoing debate surrounding copyright rights for AI-generated works.
The case revolves around Dr. Stephen Thaler, who sought to copyright an artwork titled “A Recent Entrance to Paradise,” generated by an AI model known as the Creativity Machine. Thaler’s claim was that the AI’s creation still met the “human authorship” requirement for copyright protection. However, the US Copyright Office (USCO) rejected his application twice, prompting Thaler to challenge their “human authorship” criteria.
Judge Howell’s ruling echoed the position of the USCO, asserting that the fundamental basis of copyright protection requires human involvement in the creative process. The judge cited past cases where works lacking human input, such as the instance of a monkey taking selfies, were denied copyright protection. Howell emphasized the importance of human authorship as a cornerstone of copyright law.
While acknowledging the rise of generative AI and the complex questions it poses regarding copyright, Judge Howell deemed Thaler’s case relatively straightforward. Thaler himself admitted not being involved in the artwork’s creation, leaving little room for ambiguity. Despite this, the ruling has ignited discussions about the level of human input needed for AI-generated art to qualify for copyright protection.
The ruling, heralded as the first of its kind in the United States, comes as the USCO grapples with the issue of AI-generated content. The agency had previously issued guidelines in March, indicating that AI-generated images based on text prompts generally do not meet the criteria for copyright protection. However, the USCO acknowledged the complexity of the matter, emphasizing that each case would be assessed individually based on the AI tool’s operation and usage.
This ruling has opened a dialogue on the future of copyright in an age of rapidly evolving technology. As AI continues to play a more significant role in creative processes, legal battles over ownership and authorship are expected to intensify. Dr. Stephen Thaler has expressed his intention to appeal the decision, ensuring that the debate over AI-generated art and copyright remains a central focus in the legal landscape.
Source: Engadget
