MIT AI Risk Repository · Risk Category · 05.17.00
Copyright - Authorship
Description
The emergence of generative AI raises issues regarding disruptions to existing copyright norms. Frequently discussed in the literature are violations of copyright and intellectual property rights stemming from the unauthorized collection of text or image training data. Another concern relates to generative models memorizing or plagiarizing copyrighted content. Additionally, there are open questions and debates around the copyright or ownership of model outputs, the protection of creative prompts, and the general blurring of traditional concepts of authorship.
From Mapping the Ethics of Generative AI: A Comprehensive Scoping Review (Hagendorff2024), as extracted by the MIT AI Risk Repository (CC BY 4.0).
Classification
- Causal entity
- Human
- Intent
- Intentional
- Timing
- Pre-deployment
Subdomain definition: AI systems capable of creating economic or cultural value, including through reproduction of human innovation or creativity (e.g., art, music, writing, code, invention), can destabilize economic and social systems that rely on human effort. This may lead to reduced appreciation for human skills, disruption of creative and knowledge-based industries, and homogenization of cultural experiences due to the ubiquity of AI-generated content.
Real-world incidents in this subdomain
- Seedance 2.0 Reportedly Generated Viral Tom Cruise–Brad Pitt Fight Video, Prompting Hollywood IP and Likeness Complaints
- The New York Times Sued Perplexity for Allegedly Using Copyrighted Content and Generating False Attributions
- Reported Disqualification of Two Books from the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Due to Alleged AI-Generated Cover Art
- Unauthorized AI Impersonation of George Carlin Used in Comedy Special
- GAN Artwork Won First Place at State Fair Competition