[Gettyimages Bank]
AI-generated image services became popular during the last few years as they offer image generation based on users' demands. AI uses datasets pre-collected from the web to instantly generate still images or moving pictures. Conventional copyright protection laws normally cover only works created by humans. Fierce debates are currently taking place in online and offline spaces over whether AI violates intellectual property (IP) laws.
In early February, American-British online stock image service operator Getty Images filed a lawsuit in the United States against Stability AI, the operator of open-source AI image generation service Stable Diffusion. The stock photography company accused the AI image generation service operator of "brazen infringement of Getty Images’ intellectual property on a staggering scale," claiming that Stability AI copied more than 12 million images from Getty Images' database.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that a working group designed to improve copyright laws regarding AI-generated images was launched on February 24 and the group consists of scholars, lawyers, AI industry experts and creators held its first discussion. The working group will be operated until September, the ministry said.
Through the working group, the culture ministry seeks to set up guidelines for the proper use of AI-generated images based on the current copyright laws. The ministry said that it hopes that the experts would come up with standards that would be legally applicable.
"It is important to prepare related laws in order to lead the era of AI-generated content, as well as the continuous development of technologies," Vice Culture Minister Jeon Byung-geuk said in a statement on February 24.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
