Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a hot topic in the world of intellectual property. The increasing popularity of cutting-edge AI programs like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and ChatGPT, is transforming human expression. And AI art is being created with these unique tools.
In September 2021, Kris Kashtanova received a copyright for their AI art project, an 18-page story called “Zarya of the Dawn.” She developed her work using an AI program called Midjourney.
Then in February 2022, the U.S. Copyright Office suddenly reversed itself and stripped Kashtanova of legal protection for her AI art. With the help of a high-powered legal team, Kashtanova is now testing the limits of the law once again.
They are turning to a different AI program, Stable Diffusion, which lets users scan their own drawings into the program and refine them with text prompts.
Billions of dollars are at stake with AI art
The legal system has not yet figured out who owns the output of AI art. It is an open question whether the users, the owners of the programs, or maybe no one at all should hold the rights.
