Understanding the legal landscape of digital and AI-produced art
In this introduction, I would like to provide an overview of this topic, Digital art law, along with AI art law, and explain why it is important for all artists and creators to understand this legal landscape of digital and AI-produced art.
In the following article I will do my best to provide some hopefully easy to read and understand information, along with some great resources. Let’s start with copyright and trademark law.
Copyright and digital art
1.Copyright law protects original works of authorship, including digital art, and gives you the copyright holder the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and display the work.
“In the United States, copyright protection is automatic and exists as soon as a work is created and fixed in a tangible form, such as being saved to a computer”.
Digital art is eligible for copyright protection as long as it is original and created by a human.
Trademark and digital art
2.Trademark law protects – symbols, words, or phrases that identify and distinguish a product or service. In the context of digital art, trademarks may be used to protect logos or other distinctive elements of the work. For example, if an artist creates a distinctive logo for their digital art business, they may be able to register it as a trademark to prevent others from using it without permission.
In the long run, copyright and trademark law provide important legal protections for digital and AI-produced art. It’s important for artists and creators to be aware of these protections, to learn and then take the steps to protect their work.
Legal protections for digital art
Here are a few suggested resources for the legal protections available for digital and AI-produced art.
Electronic Frontier Foundation
The Copyright Society of the USA – This professional organization is dedicated to advancing the understanding of copyright law and its impact on society. They offer a variety of resources, including articles, webinars, and educational programs.
The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property – (AIPPI): This organization promotes the protection of intellectual property rights around the world. They have a variety of resources available on their website, including publications and information on current legal developments.
The American Bar Association – (ABA): The ABA is a professional association for lawyers that offers a variety of resources on legal topics, including intellectual property law. They have a number of publications and educational programs available on their website.
The Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Association of Law Schools – (AALS): This section of the AALS is dedicated to advancing the study and understanding of intellectual property law. They have a number of resources available on their website, including articles, reports, and information on upcoming events.
The Importance Of Protecting Your Work
As an artist, you know that your work is likely an important part of your livelihood and identity. It’s important to understand the legal protections that are available to you in order to safeguard your work from unauthorized use or exploitation.
Also there are potential risks of not understanding the law: If artists don’t understand the legal landscape of digital and AI-produced art, they may be vulnerable to legal challenges or disputes over ownership and authorship. This can have serious financial and professional consequences.
However by understanding the legal landscape of digital and AI-produced art, artists like you can take steps to protect your work and potentially benefit from the financial and professional opportunities that may arise.
Through our research, here are just a few examples of real-life legal disputes and or successes involving digital and AI-produced art:
In 2020, a French court ruled that an AI-generated portrait was eligible for copyright protection. This was the first time that an AI-generated work had been granted copyright protection in France.
In 2018, artist Trevor Jones sued British street artist Banksy over a digital artwork that Jones claimed was based on one of his own paintings. The case was resolved through out-of-court settlement.
In 2016, the artist David Hochbaum sued the MoMA over a digital artwork that was created using an algorithm that Hochbaum had developed.
The case was settled through alternative dispute resolution methods, rather than going to court
.
In 2015, the artist Justin Blinder sued Google for copyright infringement over the use of one of his digital artworks in an advertisement. The case was eventually settled out of court.
In 2012, the artist Aaron Kreisberg sued the band the Beastie Boys over the use of one of his digital artworks in an album cover. The case was ultimately settled out of court.
These are just a few examples of legal disputes involving digital and AI-produced art. I hope they are helpful in illustrating the importance of understanding the legal landscape of these art forms.
In conclusion, it is essential for artists and creators to understand the legal landscape of digital and AI-produced art in order to protect their work and livelihood. From copyright and trademark law to the challenges of enforcing legal protections online, there are a number of factors to consider when creating and sharing digital and AI-produced art. By taking the time to learn about your rights and the legal protections available to you, you can safeguard your work and potentially benefit from the financial and professional opportunities that may arise. As creatives, it’s important to balance our focus on creativity with an understanding of the legal issues that can impact our work. By doing so, we can better protect ourselves and our creations.
I would like to thank you for your attention and I invite you to share your thoughts or feel free to ask any remaining questions.
Russ
