The Intersection Between Copyright Law and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

With an emphasis on the US and UK legal systems, this dissertation examines the complex institutional and legal frameworks pertaining to AI ownership and the use of copyrighted content for AI training. Based on Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill's theory of utilitarianism, it looks at how copyright rules encourage innovation and advance economic and cultural development. The study also discusses legal positivism, as put out by Hans Kelsen and HLA Hart, to support the need for legislative changes to make room for new, cutting-edge technology like Artificial Intelligence. Moreover, an analysis of John Locke's Labour Theory emphasises the creator's right to intellectual property that results from their labour, highlighting the significance of copyright as a safeguard for creators' rights in the digital era. Given that Artificial Intelligence lacks legal personality, the dissertation emphasises the difficulties in establishing copyright ownership of content produced by AI. It also discusses the contentious issue of using copyrighted resources to teach AI systems, arguing about the bounds of fair use and the possible effects on original creators' livelihoods. The paper highlights gaps in the current legal frameworks and makes recommendations for future legislative revisions through a comparative review of US and UK laws. In order to ensure that copyright law stays applicable and effective in the face of swift technical breakthroughs, these revisions seek to find a balance between encouraging innovation in the development of AI technology and safeguarding the creators’ rights. By providing insights into how legal systems can change to meet the opportunities and difficulties posed by artificial intelligence, this research adds to the continuing conversation on Copyright law in the era of Artificial Intelligence.