Hardly a day goes by without artificial intelligence (AI) making headlines as daily use of technologies based around it continues to grow. When you search for something on Facebook, it challenges you to ask “Meta AI instead.” When you look at a live YouTube stream, an AI offers a summary of what is being said by users in the video’s chat room. Art and writing made with generative AI continues to flood the internet.
As average users work to adapt, so too do artists, programmers, researchers, writers, and lawyers. AI continues to spread into industries and creative outlets of all kinds, and legal battles to determine when the technology goes too far are occurring at dramatic rates. Just this month, over 4,000 British artists signed a joint letter to the U.K. government asking it to protect their copyrighted works from being used to train AI. This petition followed a survey by The Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) that showed 89% of U.K artists want the government to better protect their works.
“The survey response clearly shows how important the topic of AI is to artists, from the opportunities AI offers to the threat it can pose to the earning potential of artists and the abuse of their works,” Christian Zimmermann, chief executive at DACS, said in January. “To maintain the U.K.'s status as a global leader in the cultural and creative industries, it's imperative for the government to act, offering stronger protection for artists and their creations.”
In April, the U.S. government looked to get ahead of some of the challenges by hosting a congressional hearing on AI intellectual property (IP) law, and what kind of protection works generated by the technology deserve. The hearing dove into topics such as First Amendment protections, deep fakes, copyright, and more. One speaker at the hearing was Ben Sheffner, senior vice president and associate general counsel for the Motion Picture Association (MPA) of America, who argued in favor of thoughtful, creative use of AI.
“MPA sees great promise in AI as a way to enhance the filmmaking process and provide an even more compelling experience for audiences,” he said. “We also share the concerns of actors and recording artists about how AI can facilitate the unauthorized replication of their likenesses and voices. However, legislating in the area involves doing something that the First Amendment sharply limits, regulating the content of speech.”
Over the course of 2024, 31 states enacted legislation or adopted resolutions regarding AI. Indiana, for example, created an AI task force to “study and assess” AI technologies. Florida provided grants to school districts to help them implement AI tools, and Washington used funds to help business startups focusing on AI.
The laws surrounding AI are changing rapidly, and IP attorneys such as those at Hartman Global IP Law are working tirelessly to stay on top of the latest news and updates in order to help their clients. To learn more about Hartman Global, visit hartmanglobal-ip.com.
