Copia Institute to Feds: Copyright Law Has No Business Obstructing AI Training

Dec 10, 2023 ·

The Copia Institute recently told the Copyright Office that copyright law should not be used to obstruct Artificial Intelligence (AI) training. The Institute makes the argument that AI algorithms need access to massive amounts of data in order to acquire knowledge, and copyright law should not be used to restrict such access. They point to examples of how copyright law has been used to prevent researchers from using copyrighted works to train AI algorithms.

The current case involves a software program called Lumen. Lumen uses AI to create detailed reports on the use of copyrighted material on the Internet. The Copia Institute argues that Lumen could not have been developed if copyright laws had prevented its creators from accessing large datasets of copyrighted material.

In their letter to the Copyright Office, the Copia Institute said that copyright law should not interfere with AI training, as it would stifle progress and innovation. They argued that copyright should be used to protect creators' rights, not to limit what can be done with existing works.

The Copia Institute also argued that copyright law should not be used to prevent researchers from using copyrighted works to train AI algorithms. They provided evidence that researchers are often limited in terms of what data they can access, and this limits the development of AI algorithms.

The Copia Institute's main arguments are rooted in the idea that data is essential for advancing AI technology. By preventing access to larger datasets of copyrighted material, copyright law can hinder progress in the field. Furthermore, the Institute believes that copyright law should not be used to actively limit the potential applications of AI.

Overall, the Copia Institute believes that copyright law should not be used to interfere with AI training and research. They argue that allowing access to large datasets of copyrighted material is beneficial to all involved, and copyright law should be used to protect creators' rights rather than limit the potential of AI technology.