Country music artists, romance novel writers, video game creators, and voice actors are urgently appealing to the U.S. government for immediate assistance in addressing the threat posed by artificial intelligence to their livelihoods.
A blogger expressed fear, stating, “I choose controlAI. I’m scared,” emphasizing concerns about AI potentially mimicking voices in the numerous letters recently submitted to the U.S. Copyright Office.
In contrast, technology companies seem satisfied with the current situation as it enables them to analyze published content to enhance their AI systems’ ability to replicate human behavior effectively.
The top trademark official in the nation has not taken a definitive stance yet. While contemplating whether rights reforms are necessary for a new era of AI tools capable of generating compelling visuals, music, videos, and written content, she emphasized her receptiveness to various perspectives in discussions with The Associated Press.
During an interview, Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, disclosed, “We have received nearly 10,000 comments,” underscoring that each comment is being reviewed by a human rather than a machine. She also mentioned personally reviewing a substantial number of comments.
What’s at Stake?
Perlmutter oversees the U.S. Copyright Office, which registered over 480,000 copyrights last year covering millions of individual works. However, there is a growing trend of registering AI-generated creations, raising questions about the eligibility of entirely machine-generated content for copyright protection, given that copyright laws are designed to safeguard human-authored works.
Perlmutter is exploring whether individuals have adequate involvement in shaping the expressive elements of AI-generated content to be considered contributors. As humans provide input and instructions to AI systems to influence the outcomes, the Copyright Office is seeking public input on this matter.
The Copyright Office has solicited feedback on how to address the use of copyrighted works sourced from the internet and other outlets to train AI systems, often without authorization or compensation, sparking significant discussion among creative professionals.
Following the closure of the initial comment period in early October with over 9,700 submissions, a second round of feedback is expected by December 6. Subsequently, Perlmutter’s office will formulate recommendations for Congress and other stakeholders on potential reforms.
Perspectives from Creators
Actor and filmmaker Justine Bateman from “Family Ties” expressed apprehension about AI models consuming decades of film and television content, potentially disrupting the entertainment industry’s structure and displacing human creativity. She urged the U.S. Copyright Office to address this issue promptly.
Lilla Zuckerman, a television showrunner known for “Poker Face,” echoed concerns about AI’s impact on the entertainment sector, warning against the industry being overtaken by AI-driven content creation at the expense of human talent.
Renowned country songwriter Marc Beeson, recognized for his work with artists like Carrie Underwood and Garth Brooks, likened AI to a double-edged sword, capable of either enhancing or jeopardizing the music industry based on the guidelines governing its use.
While individual commentators dominated the discourse, major music labels like Universal Music Group criticized the unregulated nature of AI training, highlighting potential risks to creative industries.
Ethical Considerations
Leading tech companies such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, the developers of ChatGPT, argue that their AI training practices align with the “fair use” doctrine, permitting limited utilization of copyrighted material for educational and transformative purposes.
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, emphasized the importance of leveraging copyrighted content within AI models for educational insights and pattern recognition, rather than direct replication of specific works.
As copyright laws grapple with the implications of AI-generated content, tech firms have largely defended their practices, citing precedents where courts upheld fair use in similar contexts, such as Google’s legal victories regarding book digitization.
The Copyright Office, under Perlmutter’s guidance, aims to address the nuanced challenges posed by AI technologies within the framework of copyright law, distinguishing between legitimate educational use and unauthorized appropriation of creative works.
