A federal judge has upheld the US Copyright Office’s decision that art created by artificial intelligence (AI) is not eligible for copyright protection. The judge stated that copyright law has never extended its protection to works generated by new forms of technology without human intervention.
Stephen Thaler, CEO of neural network company Imagination Engines, challenged the government’s refusal to register AI-created works. Thaler claimed that an AI system called the Creativity Machine was the sole creator of a work of art titled “A Recent Entry to Paradise.” However, the Copyright Office rejected the request, arguing that human authorship is a fundamental requirement for copyright protection.
Thaler filed a lawsuit arguing that the AI should be recognized as an author under certain criteria, with ownership held by the owner of the machine. The judge ruled that since the work was generated solely by a computer without human intervention, it is not protected by copyright law.
The judge emphasized that copyright law is designed to protect works of human creation. Even in the case of mechanical reproductions made by cameras, human intervention in the creative process is essential for them to be eligible for copyright.
The ruling cited previous cases that established the need for human authorship in copyright protection. The judge also highlighted the purpose of copyright law, which is to encourage human participation in creation, protect human property, and encourage creativity and invention.
This decision adds to ongoing legal debates over AI companies training their systems on copyrighted works. While most AI-generated works are not eligible for copyright, AI-assisted materials may qualify for copyright protection if they have been creatively selected or arranged by a human.
2023-08-21 02:31:11
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