AI Image Tools Skirt IP Laws, Putting Users and Firms at Risk
-
AI image generators like Midjourney and DALL-E readily create copyrighted characters like Mickey Mouse and Darth Vader, often showing them doing inappropriate things.
-
Even neutral prompts can result in images with copyrighted IP like Toy Story characters. Users may infringe without realizing.
-
Services profit from building tools that rely on ingesting others' IP without permission. Lawsuits seem inevitable.
-
If rights holders sue, users are still liable for damages, even if infringement was unintentional.
-
Experts say users face uncertainty about if any given AI output infringes. Companies also face risk of litigation for training on copyrighted data.