WASHINGTON D.C. (CelebrityAccess) — The U.S. Copyright Office has released the first part of its report on legal and policy issues surrounding copyright and artificial intelligence, focusing on the subject of digital replicas.
The first part of the report comes amid the proliferation of videos, images, or audio recordings that falsely portray an individual or mimic their unique artistic contributions or even style.
Noting gaps in the existing legal framework, the Copyright Office recommend that Congress create a new law that protects all individuals from the distribution of unauthorized digital replicas and provides some recommendations on elements to include in the creation of such a law.
“I am pleased to begin sharing the results of our comprehensive study of AI and copyright, with this first set of recommendations to Congress. It has become clear that the distribution of unauthorized digital replicas poses a serious threat not only in the entertainment and political arenas but also for private citizens. We believe there is an urgent need for effective nationwide protection against the harms that can be caused to reputations and livelihoods,” said Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office. “We look forward to working with Congress as they consider our recommendations and evaluate future developments.”
The report stems from a 2023 initiative by the Copyright Office to examine the impacts of artificial intelligence on copyright.
Additional parts of the report, which will be released at a future date, will cover the copyrightability of materials created in whole or in part by generative AI, the legal implications of training AI models on copyrighted works, licensing considerations, and the allocation of any potential liability.
The first part of the report is available here: https://copyright.gov/ai/Copyright-and-Artificial-Intelligence-Part-1-Digital-Replicas-Report.pdf
