Artists Sue OpenAI & Other Generative AI Companies for Copyright Infringement
Generative AI has raised concerns over copyright issues as artists and creators are taking legal action against AI companies for alleged copyright infringement. OpenAI, a prominent AI startup, was recently sued by authors, including George R.R. Martin, for training their AI-powered chatbot, ChatGPT, on their works without consent. This lawsuit led by the Authors Guild is just one example of many cases emerging in the field of generative AI.
Runway, another company developing generative AI tools, is also grappling with the challenges of respecting artists’ rights. Co-founder Anastasis Germanidis acknowledged that they are actively working with artists to determine the best approaches for training AI models on their works. Runway, like many other generative AI startups, does not disclose the exact sources of their training data. However, if any of the data used is copyrighted, it could lead to legal consequences for the company in the future.
Other generative AI companies, such as Stability AI, Midjourney, and DeviantArt, have also faced lawsuits from artists claiming copyright infringement. Separately, Getty Images has sued Stability AI for allegedly copying and processing millions of images and metadata owned by Getty in the UK.
Some generative AI companies argue that they are protected by fair use doctrine, particularly in the United States. However, the issue remains unresolved and unlikely to be settled in the near future.
To protect themselves from potential legal challenges, some generative AI vendors have introduced opt-out options for artists and established funds to share revenue generated by their models. OpenAI, for example, has created a channel for artists to inform the company that their artwork cannot be used for model training. Although Runway does not currently provide an opt-out or contributor fund, Germanidis hinted that they are considering implementing these measures to address artists’ concerns.
The copyright debate surrounding AI-generated works is also a significant aspect to consider. Whether AI-generated content can be copyrighted remains an open question. The US Copyright Office has recently sought comments on generative AI and intellectual property issues, but there is little clarity provided by court decisions.
Germanidis stated that Runway-generated content can be copyrighted, although the company has not introduced a policy like Microsoft’s, which assumes legal liability for copyright-related damages incurred by customers using its AI services. Nevertheless, Germanidis assured that Runway will defend its customers if necessary, emphasizing the company’s commitment to supporting artists and respecting their content.
The ongoing discussions and legal battles reflect the complexity and evolving nature of the relationship between generative AI tools and artists’ rights. As regulators and industry players navigate this landscape, solutions that strike a balance between innovation and copyright protection must be found. Artists and creators should feel confident that AI platforms work for them, safeguard their rights, and acknowledge their ownership of the content they create.
