New US Bill Would Make AI Companies Disclose The Copyrighted Art They Trained On
By Mikelle Leow, 10 Apr 2024
Image generated on AI
A new law being suggested in the US Congress sets to keep up with the largely unregulated world of artificial intelligence, especially protecting human creators. The Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act, proposed by California Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, aims to bring transparency to the often opaque process of training generative AI models.
These models, capable of producing creative text formats, images, music, and even video, are trained on massive datasets that can include billions of lines of text and code, alongside vast collections of images and media. The concern lies in whether these datasets incorporate copyrighted material without proper licensing or compensation to the creators.
The proposed legislation would require AI companies to submit a list of any copyrighted works used to train their generative AI systems to the US Copyright Office before launching them publicly. This disclosure, mandated at least 30 days prior to release, would offer a level of accountability and potentially pave the way for discussions around copyright ownership and fair use in the context of AI-generated content.
The act “champions innovation while safeguarding the rights and contributions of creators, ensuring they are aware when their work contributes to AI training datasets,” says Rep Schiff. “This is about respecting creativity in the age of AI and marrying technological progress with fairness.”
Proponents of the bill, including artist advocacy groups like the Directors Guild of America (DGA), Professional Photographers of America, and SAG-AFTRA, along with some lawmakers, argue that such transparency is crucial for protecting the rights of creators whose works contribute to the development of powerful AI tools. They believe declaring copyrighted material would allow for proper licensing agreements and ensure fair compensation to artists whose work is unknowingly incorporated into AI models.
Lesli Linka Glatter, president of the DGA, praises the move as “an important first step toward enabling filmmakers to protect their intellectual property from the potential harms caused by generative AI.”
Seconding this is the 35,000-member Professional Photographers of America, whose CEO David Trust notes: “Photographers are particularly susceptible to having their works scraped by generative AI companies, as they must publicly exhibit their best work to attract clients. The urgency of this issue should not be understated as copyright holders suffer from the harsh reality of competing with their own works taken by generative AI companies to develop their systems.”
The Generative AI Copyright Disclosure Act represents the latest attempt to grapple with the complex legal and ethical questions surrounding AI and its impact on creative industries. As AI technology continues to develop, finding a balance between fostering innovation and protecting intellectual property rights will be a critical challenge for policymakers and the tech industry alike.
[via The Guardian and Billboard, cover image generated on AI]