The Impact on Average Joe’s and Jane’s
Now you may be thinking, “Sam, how does this affect me, an average citizen, not an artist?” Well, let’s think about it. If this decision makes artists less willing to create derivative works, it could lead to fewer new creations and less diversity in the arts. In turn, this affects what you, as a consumer, get to enjoy. Plus, it also places a greater burden on artists to predict all the ways their work might be used in the future. Imagine being a musician and having to predict every possible remix of your song before it’s even released. Quite the task, right?
The Role of AI and Future Developments
In an age where artificial intelligence is becoming a part of our daily lives, this decision carries even more weight. As Jonathon Hance, a partner at Bracewell LLP, mentioned, in the context of AI, the focus could shift from human creativity to the work’s potential use, posing an even bigger challenge.
In the words of the legendary Prince, “Art is about building a new foundation, not just laying something on top of what’s already there.” This verdict might force artists to rethink how they build their ‘new foundation’ if their creative process involves previously copyrighted works.
