In 2016, a painting called “The Next Rembrandt” made headlines as the first artwork generated entirely by artificial intelligence. The painting was created with a 3D printer based on data from the paintings of the artist Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669).
The painting opened up conversations about the possibilities of using AI in the arts, but also resurfaced longstanding debates around copyright protections and ethical data sourcing. Who owns the outputs of generative models?
ING Group / The Next Rembrandt / CC-2.0
Stop and Reflect:
Read the article “Generative AI is a minefield for copyright law” and take notes on the key issues it raises around copyright, ownership, and generative AI art tools. As you read, consider:
- Who currently owns the copyright to AI art under US law?
- What are some ways generative AI models may infringe on copyright protections?
- What solutions are proposed around issues like training data usage and joint ownership models?
OPTIONAL