Main topic: Copyright protection for works created by artificial intelligence (AI)
Key points:
1. A federal judge upheld a finding from the U.S. Copyright Office that AI-generated art is not eligible for copyright protection.
2. The ruling emphasized that human authorship is a fundamental requirement for copyright protection.
3. The judge stated that copyright law protects only works of human creation and is not designed to extend to non-human actors like AI.
### Summary
A US court ruled that creative work made by artificial intelligence is ineligible for copyright, a significant ruling amid the ongoing Hollywood writer's strike.
### Facts
- 🤖 Artificial intelligence-generated art cannot be protected by copyright, according to a US federal judge.
- 📜 The ruling may codify intellectual property rights regarding creative works made by AI versus those made by humans.
- ⚖️ The ruling was made by US District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell and supported by the register of copyrights and director of the US Copyright Office, Shira Perlmutter.
- ⚠️ The significance of the ruling comes amid ongoing writers' and actors' strikes in Hollywood, as there are fears that studios will use AI-generated work to avoid paying writers and actors.
- 🧠 The plaintiff, Stephen Thaler, argued that his AI, the "Creativity Machine," should be recognized as the author of a piece of artwork, but the US Copyright Office denied the application.
- 📚 The ruling also clarifies that the copyright for AI-generated work cannot be claimed by the AI's users under the work-for-hire doctrine.
### How does this relate to Hollywood and AI?
- 🎥 The ruling has implications for Hollywood's use of AI-generated content and the ongoing concerns of writers' and actors' unions.
- 💡 The question of copyrightability for works made by AI has become increasingly relevant as generative AI becomes more prevalent globally.
- 💰 Entertainment and media companies are investing significantly in generative AI and may become global leaders in the field.
- 🌐 By 2025, it is projected that 90% of all content may be partly AI-generated.
### Summary
The entertainment industry is experiencing a hiring boom for AI-related positions as companies, including Netflix, Disney, and Sony, aim to expand their machine learning capabilities. This has raised concerns among writers and actors about the potential impact of AI on their livelihoods.
### Facts
- The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is concerned that generative AI could replace human writers, allowing studios to cut costs.
- The Screen Actors Guild (Sag-Aftra) is worried about the use of digital likenesses, with studios proposing to pay background actors for perpetual image usage.
- Companies like Netflix, Disney, and Amazon have numerous open positions related to machine learning and AI, indicating a push to build up machine learning capabilities.
- The expansion of AI employment in the entertainment industry extends beyond generative AI, encompassing areas like recommendations, advertising, and dubbing of foreign languages.
- The hiring boom reflects a broader trend of companies seeking AI leadership roles across various industries.
- Disney has formed an internal task force to study AI and is embracing AI as part of its creative future.
- Generative AI is already being used in various aspects of entertainment production, including visual effects, dubbing, and even generating full episodes or movies.
- Writers and actors are demanding protections over AI, including the use of their creative material and AI-generated scripts.
- The current agreement between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) does not consider AI-generated material eligible for credit.
### Summary
A federal judge in the US ruled that an AI-generated artwork is not eligible for copyright protection since it lacks human authorship.
### Facts
- The judge agreed with the US Copyright Office's rejection of a computer scientist's attempt to copyright an artwork generated by an AI model.
- The judge stated that copyright protection requires human authorship and that works absent of human involvement have been consistently denied copyright protection.
- The ruling raises questions about the level of human input needed for copyright protection of generative AI and the originality of artwork created by systems trained on copyrighted pieces.
- The US Copyright Office has issued guidance on copyrighting AI-generated images based on text prompts, generally stating that they are not eligible for protection.
- The agency has granted limited copyright protection to a graphic novel with AI-generated elements.
- The computer scientist plans to appeal the ruling.
### Summary
A federal judge ruled that AI-generated art cannot be copyrighted, which could impact Hollywood studios and their use of AI.
### Facts
- 🤖 Plaintiff Stephen Thaler sued the US Copyright Office to have his AI system recognized as the creator of an artwork.
- 🚫 US District Judge Beryl Howell upheld the Copyright Office's decision to reject Thaler's copyright application.
- 📜 Howell stated that human authorship is a fundamental requirement for copyright and cited the "monkey selfie" case as an example.
- ❓ How much human input is needed for AI-generated works to qualify as authored by a human will be a question for future cases.
- ⚖️ Hollywood studios may face challenges in their contract disputes with striking actors and writers, as AI-generated works may not receive copyright protection.
### Summary
The New York Film and Television Union Coalition, consisting of several unions including SAG-AFTRA and WGA, supports bills in New York that would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to displace workers in film and television productions.
### Facts
- The Coalition praises two identical bills in New York State that aim to prevent companies from using AI to replace human workers in film and TV productions.
- The coalition is formed by SAG-AGTRA, WGA East, Directors Guild of America, Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600), Editors Guild (IATSE Local 700), United Scenic Artists (IATSE Local 829), IATSE Local 52, and Teamsters Local 817.
- The use of AI in film and TV production is a significant issue for WGA and SAG-AFTRA, who are currently on strike.
- The DGA's recently ratified contract includes precautions regarding the use of AI, while IATSE is preparing for contract negotiations next year, concerned about the potential disruption of AI in the industry.
- The Union Coalition supports the pending legislation in order to prioritize worker protection and avoid job displacement.
- While acknowledging the potential benefits of AI, the Union Coalition emphasizes the importance of human creativity and vows to protect workers and their contributions to the arts.
- The DGA's AI provisions in their contract include ensuring that the duties of DGA-represented employees are assigned to them rather than AI, and the need for consultation with DGA-covered employees regarding the use of AI in creative elements.
👏 Union Coalition praises bills in New York to prevent AI job displacement in film and TV.
🌟 Several prominent unions, including SAG-AFTRA and WGA, support the legislation.
🔒 AI use in production is a key strike issue for WGA and SAG-AFTRA.
🤝 DGA's contract includes safeguards for AI use, while IATSE prepares for negotiations and expresses concerns.
A federal judge has ruled that works created by artificial intelligence (A.I.) are not covered by copyrights, stating that copyright law is designed to incentivize human creativity, not non-human actors. This ruling has implications for the future role of A.I. in the music industry and the monetization of works created by A.I. tools.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has proposed guidelines for the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) and data transparency in the entertainment industry, stating that AI-created material cannot be considered literary or intellectually protected, and ensuring that credit, rights, and compensation for AI-generated scripts are given to the original human writer or reworker.
Hollywood studios are considering the use of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to assist in screenwriting, but concerns remain regarding copyright protection for works solely created by AI, as they currently are not copyrightable.
The Hollywood studios have made their offer to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in hopes of ending the ongoing strike, including a wage increase and protections against artificial intelligence, although a deal has not yet been reached.
A Washington D.C. judge has ruled that AI-generated art should not be awarded copyright protections since no humans played a central role in its creation, establishing a precedent that art should require human authorship; YouTube has partnered with Universal Music Group to launch an AI music incubator to protect artists from unauthorized use of their content; Meta has introduced an automated translator that works for multiple languages, but concerns have been raised regarding the impact it may have on individuals who wish to learn multiple languages; major studios are hiring "AI specialists" amidst a writers' strike, potentially leading to a future of automated entertainment that may not meet audience expectations.
The creator of an AI-generated artwork is unable to copyright it, as the US Copyright Office states that human authorship is necessary for copyright, which could have implications for the popularity of AI art generators.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a preliminary labor agreement with major studios, ending one of the two strikes that have halted film and television production, costing the California economy billions; however, the SAG-AFTRA actors' union strike continues.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) after a 146-day strike, bringing an end to the longest strike in the guild's history; the agreement still needs to be ratified by the WGA's members and includes provisions regarding the use of artificial intelligence in writing.
The Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative deal with Hollywood studios after a five-month strike, with key points including limits on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), allowing writers to use AI with permission but not mandating its use, and preventing studios from using AI-generated material without informing the writers; however, concerns remain as SAG-AFTRA, the labor union representing actors, is still on strike and has raised worries about the impact of AI on their industry.
The recently ended Hollywood writers' strike reached a groundbreaking agreement that protects screenwriters from losing their jobs to AI-generated scripts, although the issue of AI training remains unresolved, highlighting the growing concerns in the music industry regarding AI-generated music and the need for legislation to protect songwriters.
The Writers Guild of America's recent deal with Hollywood studios, which addresses the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.), sets a significant precedent for labor relations in a digital future, highlighting that workers can have a say in how A.I. is utilized in the workplace and ensuring that human writers receive credit and compensation for their work alongside A.I. tools.
Hollywood writers have reached a groundbreaking agreement that establishes guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in film and television, ensuring that writers have control over the technology and protecting their roles from being replaced by AI. This contract could serve as a model for other industries dealing with AI.
A group of 200 renowned writers, publishers, directors, and producers have signed an open letter expressing concern over the impact of AI on human creativity, emphasizing issues such as standardization of culture, biases, ecological footprint, and labor exploitation in data processing. They called on industries to refrain from using AI in translation, demanded transparency in the use of AI in content production, and urged support for stronger rules around transparency and copyright within the EU's new AI law.
Representatives from various media and entertainment guilds, including SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America, have called for consent, credit, and compensation in order to protect their members' work, likenesses, and brands from being used to train artificial intelligence (AI) systems, warning of the encroachment of generative AI into their industries that undermines their labor and presents risks of fraud. They are pushing for regulations and contractual terms to safeguard their intellectual property and prevent unauthorized use of their creative content.
The 148-day-long Writers Guild of America strike is over, with screenwriters winning a new WGA contract that raises standards and establishes enforceable rules for the use of AI.
AI technology poses a threat to voice actors and artists as it can replicate their voices and movements without consent or compensation, emphasizing the need for legal protections and collective bargaining.
The publishing industry is grappling with concerns about the impact of AI on copyright, as well as the quality and ownership of AI-generated content, although some authors and industry players believe that AI writing still has a long way to go before it can fully replace human authors.
Special status is being sought by writers to protect their employment from technological progress, as they argue that software creators should obtain permission and pay fees to train AI language models with their work, even when copyright laws are not violated.
