A battle royal is brewing over copyright and AI

Mar 16, 2023 ·

A battle royal is brewing over copyright and artificial intelligence (AI) as technology companies clash with media, gaming and creative industries over who should control the use of AI to create and distribute content. On one side are tech giants such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft, which are investing heavily in AI to automate tasks that humans have traditionally done, such as creating news articles and TV shows. On the other side are media, gaming and creative industries, which are concerned that their works could be cloned or manipulated by AI applications run by tech companies, with no remuneration for the creators.

The European Union's recent copyright directive, which requires online platforms to pay for content generated using AI, has further inflamed tensions between the two sides. It forces platforms to negotiate agreements with rights-holders for compensation for any work created using AI, and establishes a new kind of intellectual property right, known as “ancillary copyright”, for AI-generated works. The move has been met with both praise and criticism from different sides.

Proponents of the new law argue that it provides a much-needed legal framework to protect the interests of creators and those who make money from their works. They also argue that it will ensure that content producers are compensated fairly and that they are not being exploited by tech companies who are only interested in making profits. Opponents of the new law argue that it stifles innovation and that it gives an unfair advantage to big tech companies over smaller ones.

In response to the proposed law, tech companies have argued that it goes too far in its restrictions on AI usage, and that it does not adequately provide compensation for creators. They are also concerned about the cost of compliance and worry that it will hurt their businesses. For their part, media, gaming and creative industries argue that the law is a necessary step to protect their interests and that it ensures that they get paid for their contributions.

The battle over copyright and AI is likely to continue well into the future, as both sides fight for their respective positions. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that the debate around copyright and AI will be a defining feature of the business landscape for years to come.