Copyright
Ongoing coverage on Copyright.
Latest coverage
"Just because you can order at a restaurant doesn’t mean you’re a chef": Game lawyer says AI-generated code made with confidential details did nothing but waste everybody's time
An IP lawyer specializing in video game contracts highlights the misuse of generative AI in development, citing an instance where a contractor submitted AI-generated code containing confidential information, leading to a failed agreement. The article discusses the legal risks, including copyright infringement and breaches of confidentiality, associated with current AI tools and suggests incorporating anti-AI clauses into contracts.
Japanese acting union fights back against AI-generated voice use, proposing strict new guidelines, especially regarding the use of a deceased actor's voice
The Japan Actors Union has introduced new guidelines to combat the exploitation of actors by generative AI, particularly concerning the use of deceased actors' voices. These rules mandate consent at every stage of AI training, require compensation for AI-generated performances and translations, and ban the use of deceased actors' voices unless explicitly permitted by them during their lifetime and approved by their families. While not legally binding, these guidelines represent a significant push for industry-wide rules and government legislation to protect 'voice rights'.
Coming soon to Invincible VS, it's your copyright-friendly neighbourhood Agent Spider
Invincible VS is introducing Agent Spider as a new DLC character, a clear homage to Marvel's Spider-Man. Voiced by Josh Keaton, who has a history of voicing Spider-Man, Agent Spider's introduction plays on the character's popularity. The article also touches on the comic book origins of the character and the legal distinctions made by Amazon.
Twitch served with class action lawsuit for training AI using streamers’ content
Twitch is facing a class action lawsuit for allegedly using streamers' content to train Amazon's AI models without consent. The suit claims this practice violates California unfair competition law. Twitch recently introduced an opt-out feature for AI training, but it is not retroactive and only applies to the specific channel.
Twitch and Amazon hit with lawsuit for training AI with streamers' content
Twitch and its parent company Amazon are facing a class-action lawsuit for allegedly training AI models using content from Twitch streamers without their consent. The suit claims that streamers' intellectual property was used without proper authorization.
A Hidden AirTag Followed Rare Books to an Amazon Warehouse — and to the Shredder
An investigation revealed that Amazon and Anthropic are acquiring and destroying rare books to use their content for training artificial intelligence models. This practice involves slicing off book spines for faster scanning, effectively rendering the physical copies irretrievable. A court ruling found similar scanning practices by Anthropic to be fair use, partly because the original books were destroyed.
Suno is adding audio watermarks so AI-generated songs are more easily identifiable
Suno is implementing audio watermarks to make AI-generated songs more easily identifiable. This feature aims to address concerns surrounding copyright and the origin of music created by artificial intelligence.
ChatGPT is now refusing requests to write in famous authors' styles
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, has begun refusing requests to write in the styles of famous authors, both living and deceased. This change in policy appears to be related to copyright concerns and ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated content mimicking specific artistic voices.
Richard Garriott vaguely references Ultima plans, including using Shroud of the Avatar as a testbed
Richard Garriott vaguely discussed potential plans for the Ultima series during a birthday livestream, mentioning ongoing discussions about regaining copyright and hoping for more substantial news by DragonCon. He and Chris Spears of Catnip Games suggested using Shroud of the Avatar as a testbed for new Ultima concepts, while Spears also provided updates on Shroud of the Avatar's backend improvements and future episodes.
Kane Parsons is standing up for an artist after A24 attempted to copyright strike their Backrooms art
Filmmaker Kane Parsons is intervening after A24 reportedly issued copyright takedown notices for artwork inspired by The Backrooms, a concept that originated online. The company, which recently released its own Backrooms film, is accused of attempting to claim ownership over community-created art that predates their adaptation. Parsons stated he is investigating the matter, emphasizing that the broader Backrooms concept and its lore should not be exclusively owned by the film adaptation.
Opt out from your Instagram photos from being used in tagged generative AI posts
Instagram is introducing a feature that allows users to generate AI images based on public photos, unless users actively opt out. The opt-out setting is located within the app's settings under 'Sharing and reuse.' This move has drawn criticism regarding copyright and content misuse, with organizations like SAG-AFTRA and publications like Shacknews taking stances against the use of AI in content creation.
Why so many game developers don't want to use generative AI
Many game developers express strong reservations about using generative AI, citing ethical concerns, environmental impact, copyright issues, and job security risks. Despite some executives championing AI as a tool for efficiency, a significant portion of the industry views it as unproven, potentially harmful to creativity, and undesirable by players.
Persona 6 Images Leak, Only to Be Removed by Sega
Images purportedly showing leaked characters and logos for Persona 6 have been removed from the internet through copyright claims. Sega is believed to be the entity responsible for issuing these takedowns.
Wario64 abruptly banned and reinstated on Bluesky over Ubisoft DMCA takedown
The Wario64 account on the social media platform Bluesky was temporarily banned due to a DMCA takedown notice from Ubisoft. The ban was related to Wario64 linking to a store listing for an upcoming remake of Rayman Legends.
Vampire Princess Miyu remaster hits production snag, will ship with no cover
AnimEigo's HD remaster of Vampire Princess Miyu has encountered a packaging approval snag in Japan, halting progress for over a year. With their license expiring next year, AnimEigo will release the Blu-ray disc exclusively from their website without cover art, featuring only text on white paper. The limited release is scheduled for September 8, 2026.
Zenless Zone Zero 'copied my puzzle game,' indie dev says, posts a pretty convincing video to prove it
Indie developer Michael Kamm has accused miHoYo of copying his puzzle game Ouros for Zenless Zone Zero, providing video evidence of striking similarities in gameplay mechanics and design choices. Kamm claims his work was cloned and attributed to the larger company, highlighting the challenges indie developers face with intellectual property in the gaming industry. Similar accusations have also been made against miHoYo regarding Genshin Impact.
AI Yi-Yi!
Ansel Adams' Trust has stated that an AI-colorized version of the photographer's work was exhibited without their permission. The trust is asserting copyright infringement over the unauthorized use and alteration of Adams' iconic images.
Ansel Adams' trust says AI-colorized version of his work was exhibited without permission
The trust of photographer Ansel Adams claims an AI-colorized version of his iconic 'Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico' photograph was exhibited at AIPAD's The Photography Show without permission. This incident highlights ongoing debates surrounding AI's use in art and copyright.
AI Yi-Yi!
This article discusses the growing concern within the music industry regarding AI-generated music, often referred to as 'AI slop.' Researchers are exploring how AI agents are being trained and the potential implications for artists and copyright.
Party Animals holds an AI-Slop contest, leading to their Steam page getting review bombed
Party Animals has faced significant backlash and review bombing on its Steam page following the announcement of an "AI Video Contest" offering a $75,000 prize. Players are protesting the studio's embrace of generative AI, citing concerns about environmental impact and job displacement for human artists. The contest rules, which mandate AI-generated submissions and prohibit original artwork, have further fueled player discontent.
