TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

Who owns the copyright to a work generated by AI?
Who owns the copyright to a composite work that originates in camera and has been edited by AI software?
Who owns the copyright to a composite work that originates in camera and includes elements generated by AI?

These and related issues will be decided by the courts in the coming months and years. Personally, I hope that copyrights are not granted for works generated exclusively by AI. As to photographs edited by AI software, I don't see how they are qualitatively different from photographs edited without the benefit of AI. I recently published a photograph ("Not the best way to become a famous painter") taken by myself (with a camera) that included a small cameo generated independently by AI and then incorporated into a composite. I believe I own the composite, just as with any fine art photograph, and should be able to register the copyright.

Would you claim ownership and the right to register a copyright in someone else's stock image, assuming you paid the appropriate license and credited the original artist? I think not. How about a composite work that included several stock images (for which the license was paid) along with some of your own? Apparently you could if the use substantially transformed the stock image(s) (under the doctrine of "fair use").

I believe incorporation of AI into one's work might be thought of as analogous to incorporation of stock images. What do others think?

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

Great opening points. Looking forward to an interesting discussion.

jcboy3

I don't see what the issue is. Copyright should belong to the person who created the image. AI is a tool, just like any other tool. The user of the tool gets the copyright. Press a shutter on a camera, hit return on a software command, click a box on a software program...all the same.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

It appears that the image is a violation of the van Goth trade mark of cutting off one's ear.

ken.toda

Very good thoughts in visual image culture and industry. What I see is; a birth of brand new media? I have been naming "pictograph" vs. photograph. From early 19th century we human being successfully created "images" pictures from Light and Chemistry. But what I recall, 1989 I was invited in Kodak demonstrations of digital imaging. There was a dye sub printer XL-4000 (or 4400?) put out a color print. I did not think then, it was a photograph.

Well today, maybe billions of images are circulating around world in this wonderful W.W.W.

It is impossible to apply "COPY RIGHTS" in this new media?

tcthome Loc: NJ

Even if the software is purchased, it is really just being leased. That should be the only thing the company who put out the AI owns. The creation belongs to the creator. You know, the person who made the decision to use the software to create. If you used someone elses sky for a replacement & it is there for you to use, you probably had permission to use it without any legal ties. Wouldn't surprise me if the court decides otherwise these days.

tcthome Loc: NJ

What does the software agreement say?

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

https://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ42.pdf

This is the information on the copyright registration of photographs by the U.S. Department of Copyright. Copyrighting photographs is not difficult and can be accomplished in a group of up to 750 images. The price is $55 for a group of images.

We must keep in mind that copyright is "the right to copy" which may or may not be granted to someone by the creator of the intellectual property.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I don’t believe anyone should claim copyright to an image.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

Yes it is.

Stan

Cragzop Loc: NYC

This image originated as a photo of Saturn I found on the Internet. Using proprietary AI software, I changed it to a completely abstract image.
Since the original photo isn’t mine, does the owner of the original own my interpretation?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Unless you tell them, how would they ever know??

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Why?

Chainlink Loc: Central Texas

Good Perspective

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

That sort of thinking is why people try to limit photography. Many years ago, a farmer complained when I photographed his barn from the edge of a public street.