header-logo header-logo

Artificial intelligence & copyright law: at odds?

207184
How should copyright laws function in the context of artificial intelligence? Emma Kennaugh-Gallacher highlights the urgent need for clarity in the UK’s approach
  • There is a pressing need for clear regulations around artificial intelligence’s (AI’s) use of copyrighted material, especially regarding training data.

In October last year, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella made his contribution to the ever-growing body of commentary on the conflict between artificial intelligence (AI) technology and intellectual property (IP) infringement. As the defendant in several copyright infringement proceedings worldwide, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that Microsoft considers that making use of copyright works for the purposes of training machine learning AI models should not amount to infringement.

Nadella questioned why a machine learning model is any different from someone reading a textbook and using the information they take in to produce new content. While his provocative conclusion, that reading a copyright work and then creating ‘new knowledge’ could be infringement, falls wide of the mark, he is certainly

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Charles Russell Speechlys—Matthew Griffin

Charles Russell Speechlys—Matthew Griffin

Firm strengthens international funds capability with senior hire

Gilson Gray—Jeremy Davy

Gilson Gray—Jeremy Davy

Partner appointed as head of residential conveyancing for England

DR Solicitors—Paul Edels

DR Solicitors—Paul Edels

Specialist firm enhances corporate healthcare practice with partner appointment

NEWS
The proposed £11bn redress scheme following the Supreme Court’s motor finance rulings is analysed in this week’s NLJ by Fred Philpott of Gough Square Chambers
In this week's issue, Stephen Gold, NLJ columnist and former district judge, surveys another eclectic fortnight in procedure. With humour and humanity, he reminds readers that beneath the procedural dust, the law still changes lives
Generative AI isn’t the villain of the courtroom—it’s the misunderstanding of it that’s dangerous, argues Dr Alan Ma of Birmingham City University and the Birmingham Law Society in this week's NLJ
James Naylor of Naylor Solicitors dissects the government’s plan to outlaw upward-only rent review (UORR) clauses in new commercial leases under Schedule 31 of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, in this week's NLJ. The reform, he explains, marks a seismic shift in landlord-tenant power dynamics: rents will no longer rise inexorably, and tenants gain statutory caps and procedural rights
Writing in NLJ this week, James Harrison and Jenna Coad of Penningtons Manches Cooper chart the Privy Council’s demolition of the long-standing ‘shareholder rule’ in Jardine Strategic v Oasis Investments
back-to-top-scroll