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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Asks If "AI" Can Create or Infringe Copyrighted Works

posted by martyb on Tuesday November 12 2019, @01:43AM   Printer-friendly
from the Bender-says-"No" dept.

takyon writes:

USPTO Questions if Artificial Intelligence Can Create or Infringe Copyrighted Works

The USPTO is part of the US Department of Commerce and deals with various intellectual property rights issues. It previously raised questions on how AI technology impacts patent law and is now expanding this to copyright matters.

The consultation starts off by asking whether anything created by an AI, without human involvement, can be copyrighted. This can refer to any type of content, including music, images, and texts.

"Should a work produced by an AI algorithm or process, without the involvement of a natural person contributing expression to the resulting work, qualify as a work of authorship protectable under U.S. copyright law? Why or why not?" the Office asks.

The technology and code that makes any AI work obviously relies on human interaction, but USPTO's question is destined to raise a lively debate. Since it's expected that more and more creations will rely heavily on AI in the future, the US Government requests guidance on these issues.

In a follow-up question, the Office zooms in further still by asking what kind of human involvement is required to make something copyrightable. Yet another question deals with possible copyright infringements by an AI. Or in other words, can an AI pirate?

The comment period closes on Dec. 16.

See also: Academy of European Law Conference Report: "Artificial Intelligence: Challenges for Intellectual Property Law"

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 12 2019, @02:53AM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 12 2019, @02:53AM (#919204)

    Of course we need to protect it. The guardians of our culture in the MAFIAA have found a way to continue to bestow their gifts without needing to pay pesky underlings... any pesky underlings, like those director types.

    We’ve taken care of everything
    The words you read
    The songs you sing
    The pictures that give pleasure
    To your eye
    One for all and all for one
    Work together
    Common sons
    Never need to wonder
    How or why

    We are the Priests
    Of the Temples of Syrinx
    Our great computers
    Fill the hallowed halls
    We are the Priests
    Of the Temples of Syrinx
    All the gifts of life
    Are held within our walls

    (i assume everybody here knows the song but would not feel right without oblig attribution link [rush.com])

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 12 2019, @02:59AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 12 2019, @02:59AM (#919206)

    Of course we need to protect it.

    Ummmhhhhh... don't know about that "we". Maybe "they" would be more appropriate.