Generative AI Has a Visual Plagiarism Problem

Jan 6, 2024 ·

The article “Midjourney Copyright” discusses the current state of copyright laws and their impact on digital content creators. In particular, the article focuses on how copyright law is evolving in response to the rapid advances in technology and the resulting proliferation of digital content. It notes that while copyright law was designed to protect creators from exploitation by third parties, it has had an unforeseen consequence of limiting creativity and expression. As such, the article argues for more flexible copyright laws that would allow for a more open system of creation and sharing of digital content.

The article cites two examples of copyright law being used to stifle creativity and innovation. Firstly, the article talks about the use of copyright notices to prevent remixes or derivative works of existing creative material. This has caused some creators to become hesitant about creating new works out of fear of legal repercussions. Secondly, the article talks about the use of algorithms to detect unauthorized uses of copyrighted material. This process has led to the removal of certain pieces of content due to potential copyright infringement.

The article also mentions the various types of copyright exceptions that creators can take advantage of, such as fair use and public domain. Fair use allows for limited reuse of copyrighted material for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Public domain refers to works that are no longer subject to copyright protection due to their age, authorship, or other factors. The article also mentions the concept of Creative Commons Licenses, which are licenses that creators can choose to apply to their works in order to grant permission for certain uses.

In conclusion, the article highlights the need for reconsideration of traditional copyright law in order to keep up with modern technological advancements. It stresses the importance of flexible copyright laws that do not limit creativity. It explores how copyright law affects digital content creators, and suggests ways to improve the system for both creators and consumers.