Yesterday it was ruled, in a US District Court, that AI-generated art CANNOT be copyrighted. Though the case in question was concerning a claim by artist Stephen Thaler and the protection of his works from the Creativity Machine algorithm, the decision will have implications for future court cases regarding music created by AI.
Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled that copyright law has “never stretched so far as” to “protect works generated by new forms of technology operating absent any guiding human hand.”
What degree of “help” from AI in creation might still allow for copyright remains an open question. There still seems to be a long distance to go until there is any sort of legal clarity on future issues surrounding AI musical copyright, but this decision shows that legal frameworks are slowly beginning to take shape.
Read the full ruling here.
Why Should YOU Care?
With AI copyright concerns engulfing the music industry, there have been calls for clearer legal guidelines to protect artists and labels. Naturally the law has been struggling to keep up with the rapid evolution of AI technologies but this ruling in the US is a significant step down the road for labels across the world.