News/Copyright
Midjourney launches 5-second video tool amid Disney lawsuit
Midjourney, a leading AI image generation company, has launched its first video creation tool, allowing users to transform still images into 5-second video clips with the press of an "Animate" button. The release comes just one week after Disney and NBCUniversal filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the company, alleging it has profited from their intellectual property by generating images of characters from Marvel, Star Wars, The Simpsons, and other major franchises. What you should know: Midjourney's new video model charges approximately eight times more than image generation but claims to be "over 25 times cheaper" than existing market alternatives....
read Jun 19, 202545.7% of searches are branded—why consistent branding wins
A new report from Ahrefs, a leading SEO analytics platform, reveals that 45.7% of all Google searches in the US are branded searches, meaning they include specific company, product, or brand names. This finding challenges the prevailing focus on AI optimization and generic SEO tactics, suggesting that traditional brand building remains the most critical factor for online business success. What you should know: The data comes from a comprehensive analysis of approximately 150 million US keywords, providing statistically significant insights into search behavior. 45.7% of all Google searches include a brand name, while 36.9% of unique search queries are branded....
read Jun 13, 2025No Suno for you! Sound editors ban AI from Golden Reel Awards over ethical concerns
The Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) has banned generative AI-created sound work from eligibility for its Golden Reel Awards, citing unresolved legal and ethical standards around AI use. The decision positions the prestigious sound editing awards as a key battleground in the entertainment industry's ongoing struggle to define boundaries for artificial intelligence in creative work. What you should know: The MPSE board made the decision based on concerns about the current lack of established standards for AI use in creative fields. "Standards for the legal and ethical use of Generative AI have yet to be established and are far from...
read Jun 11, 2025Disney and NBCUniversal sue Midjourney for AI copyright infringement
Disney and NBCUniversal have filed the first major Hollywood lawsuit against AI image generator Midjourney, accusing the company of copyright infringement for allowing users to create images of characters like Darth Vader and Shrek. The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Los Angeles, marks a significant escalation in the entertainment industry's battle against generative AI companies over intellectual property rights. What you should know: The studios describe Midjourney as a "bottomless pit of plagiarism" that enables users to generate what they call "AI slop"—personalized images of copyrighted characters. Disney Enterprises, Marvel, Lucasfilm, 20th Century, Universal City Studios Productions, and...
read Jun 11, 2025Meta’s Llama 3.1 memorized entire books including Harry Potters’, faces potential $1B lawsuit
New research reveals that Meta's Llama 3.1 70B AI model has memorized nearly complete text from popular books including Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Great Gatsby, and 1984. This discovery could expose Meta to over $1 billion in statutory damages if courts rule against the company in ongoing copyright infringement cases, fundamentally shifting the legal landscape around AI training on copyrighted materials. What you should know: Researchers tested 13 AI models to determine how much copyrighted book content they could reproduce verbatim, finding dramatic differences between companies. Meta's model demonstrated extensive memorization of entire books, while most other...
read Jun 10, 2025SAG-AFTRA secures AI guardrails in tentative video game contract deal
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Hollywood's union for video game performers, has reached a tentative contract agreement with major video game companies that could end an 11-month strike over artificial intelligence protections. The strike, which began in July 2024, centered on performers' concerns that unregulated AI could be used to replicate their voices and likenesses without consent, potentially displacing human talent in the gaming industry. What you should know: The tentative deal includes AI guardrails that SAG-AFTRA says will protect performers' livelihoods in the digital age. Union members struck against major gaming companies including...
read Jun 9, 2025Getty vs Stability AI trial in London begins first major copyright case for generative AI
Getty Images and artificial intelligence company Stability AI are facing off in London's High Court in the first major copyright trial targeting the generative AI industry. The three-week trial, which began Monday, centers on Getty's claims that Stability's widely-used Stable Diffusion image generator constitutes "brazen infringement" of Getty's photography collection "on a staggering scale," potentially setting crucial precedents for how AI companies can legally train their models on copyrighted content. What you should know: Getty Images, a Seattle-based stock photography company, filed copyright infringement lawsuits in both the US and UK in early 2023, challenging the common tech industry practice...
read Jun 6, 2025Altman pushes for AI privilege amid New York Times user data retention demands
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is advocating for "AI privilege" that would protect ChatGPT conversations like attorney-client or doctor-patient confidentiality, as The New York Times has requested a court order forcing the company to retain all user chat data indefinitely as part of its ongoing copyright lawsuit. This legal battle could fundamentally reshape user privacy expectations for AI interactions, potentially requiring OpenAI to permanently store conversations that users believe are deleted within 30 days. What you should know: The New York Times lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft centers on allegations that ChatGPT was trained using millions of copyrighted articles without permission....
read Jun 5, 2025Grok stands alone as X restricts AI training on posts in new policy update
X's new developer agreement restricts AI companies from using its content to train their models, signaling a strategic positioning in the growing market for licensed AI training data. This move aligns with recent industry trends toward monetizing platform content through exclusive AI training partnerships, as demonstrated by Reddit's Google deal and subsequent lawsuit against Anthropic for unauthorized data scraping. The big picture: X has updated its developer policy to explicitly prohibit using content from the platform to "fine-tune or train a foundation or frontier model," creating potential opportunities for exclusive AI training deals. Strategic implications: The policy change positions X...
read Jun 5, 2025Anthropic faces Reddit lawsuit over unauthorized data use
The legal battle over AI training data has reached a new front as Reddit challenges Anthropic's data practices in court, marking another significant clash between content platforms and AI companies over intellectual property rights. This lawsuit highlights the growing tension between social media platforms seeking to monetize their content and AI companies that need vast amounts of training data to develop their models. The big picture: Reddit has filed a lawsuit against AI startup Anthropic, accusing the Claude chatbot maker of scraping and using Reddit's content for training without permission despite public assurances it wouldn't do so. The complaint, filed...
read Jun 3, 2025Elton John and co. join AI copyright battle with no resolution in sight
The UK faces a high-stakes standoff between AI innovation and creative rights protection, with neither side willing to compromise in a dispute that could reshape both industries. The government's Data Bill proposes an opt-out system for AI training on copyrighted works, while creative luminaries demand a licensing approach that compensates artists. This unusual political stalemate highlights fundamental questions about intellectual property in the AI era, with significant implications for creative livelihoods and the UK's position in the global AI race. The big picture: The UK government and creative industry leaders are locked in an increasingly bitter dispute over how AI...
read May 31, 2025NYT strikes landmark AI licensing deal with Amazon
The New York Times has struck a historic licensing deal with Amazon for AI-related content usage, marking the first such agreement for the legacy media company despite its ongoing lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft over similar issues. This precedent-setting arrangement illustrates how traditional publishers are attempting to navigate AI advancement by creating commercial frameworks for their content rather than solely relying on litigation, potentially reshaping how media companies approach AI partnerships in the future. The big picture: The New York Times reached a multiyear agreement with Amazon to license its content for AI-related uses while maintaining active copyright infringement lawsuits...
read May 23, 2025European publishers rally against AI’s use of copyrighted content
European creative industries are intensifying their campaign for AI transparency and fair compensation as the EU AI Act moves toward implementation. The "Stay True to the Act, Stay True to Culture" initiative is gaining momentum across multiple countries, with publishers, musicians, and media executives demanding protection for copyright holders whose works are being used to train AI systems. This coordinated effort reflects growing concern that without proper regulation, European creative sectors could face existential threats while non-European tech companies reap the benefits of using their content without permission or payment. The big picture: Representatives from Europe's creative industries met with...
read May 22, 2025News publishers protest Google’s AI-driven search changes
Google's expanded AI Mode in search has sparked backlash from major news publishers who claim it deprives them of traffic and revenue. This conflict highlights growing tensions between traditional media and AI-powered search innovations, as publishers discover they must opt out of search entirely to avoid having their content used in AI features—a decision Google defends as necessary for technical simplicity but publishers view as digital theft. The big picture: News publishers are accusing Google of theft as it expands its AI Mode to all US users, replacing traditional search results with AI-generated responses. The News/Media Alliance, representing major US...
read May 22, 2025AI art sparks backlash from Jersey’s creative community
Jersey artists are raising concerns about AI-generated images threatening the creative industry as the technology becomes increasingly normalized. This conflict between traditional artists and AI platforms highlights growing tensions in the creative sector, where artists fear losing work to automated systems that have been trained on human-created content without proper attribution or compensation. The issue points to broader questions about copyright protection, creative authenticity, and the future sustainability of artistic careers in the age of artificial intelligence. The big picture: Jersey artist Abi Overland has publicly expressed frustration over AI-generated images and their impact on the island's creative community. She...
read May 21, 2025SAG-AFTRA files labor complaint over AI-recreated Darth Vader voice in Fortnite
SAG-AFTRA's dispute with Epic Games over the AI recreation of James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice in Fortnite highlights the emerging tensions between AI technology and performers' rights in entertainment. The conflict centers on the use of voice recreation technology without union negotiation, despite family permission, revealing the complex intersection of legacy rights management, AI development, and labor protections in the evolving digital entertainment landscape. The dispute: SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Epic Games' Llama Productions for using AI to recreate James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice in Fortnite without union negotiation. The actors union claims...
read May 20, 2025Actors’ union bypassed by Epic Games in use of AI-voiced Darth Vader
SAG-AFTRA's complaint against Epic Games over AI-generated Darth Vader voice marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between entertainment unions and game developers. This case highlights the evolving battle over AI voice rights in creative industries, where technological capabilities are outpacing established contractual frameworks. The dispute illustrates how AI voice cloning is creating new legal and ethical challenges around performer rights and proper compensation. The big picture: SAG-AFTRA has filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against Epic Games for using an AI-generated version of James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice in Fortnite without union negotiation. Epic Games acquired rights...
read May 20, 2025US Copyright Chief fired over AI abuse concerns
The firing of the US Copyright Office chief raises significant concerns about the intersection of AI development and copyright law. Her dismissal came just one day after releasing a draft report that directly challenges AI companies' practices of using copyrighted material for commercial applications without permission. This timing suggests potentially troubling political dynamics around AI regulation and copyright enforcement at the highest levels of government. The big picture: Shira Perlmutter, head of the US Copyright Office, was fired the day after releasing a draft report concluding that AI companies have violated copyright law when training models on copyrighted works for...
read May 19, 2025Music stars push AI copyright transparency in UK law, tout their pro-innovation stance
UK artists and creative industry leaders have mounted a significant legislative push to require AI companies to disclose when copyrighted works are used to train their models. This effort represents a critical juncture in the ongoing global conversation about AI transparency, creative rights, and the economic future of cultural industries in the age of artificial intelligence. The big picture: The UK House of Lords passed an amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill requiring AI companies to reveal what copyrighted works were used to train their models, despite government opposition. The amendment, backed by over 200 prominent UK creative...
read May 14, 2025A $67.5B market emerges for licensing creative work to train AI
A new market is emerging around AI content licensing as startups develop platforms to help creators monetize their work for AI training. Investors have poured $215 million into companies building tools that enable writers, publishers, music studios, and filmmakers to license their content to AI developers like OpenAI and Meta. This trend comes amid growing legal and regulatory scrutiny over AI companies' use of copyrighted material, highlighting the tension between rapid AI advancement and fair compensation for creative works. The big picture: Startups are creating marketplaces where creative industries can sell their content for AI training purposes, addressing both copyright...
read May 12, 2025Meta removes AI-generated Jamie Lee Curtis ads after star’s appeal
Meta's swift response to Jamie Lee Curtis's direct appeal demonstrates how celebrities are increasingly battling unauthorized AI-generated content that misrepresents them on social media platforms. The incident highlights both the growing challenge of deepfakes for public figures and the accountability tech companies face in policing AI misuse on their platforms, particularly when it involves unauthorized commercial appropriation of recognizable personalities. The big picture: Meta removed fake AI-generated ads featuring Jamie Lee Curtis after she directly appealed to CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Instagram to take them down. Curtis described the unauthorized content as "some bullshit that I didn't authorize, agree to...
read May 12, 2025Trump appointees denied entry to US Copyright Office
The Trump administration's abrupt firing of Copyright Office leadership coincides with a controversial new report on AI training and copyrighted materials, creating tension between tech interests and copyright protections. The situation escalated dramatically when two men claiming White House appointments attempted to enter the Copyright Office building but were prevented from gaining access. The big picture: Two men identifying themselves as White House appointees attempted to enter the US Copyright Office in Washington, DC on Monday but were unsuccessful in gaining access to the building. The men presented documentation claiming they had been appointed to leadership roles within the office...
read May 12, 2025SoundCloud faces backlash over announcement-less AI terms in user agreement
SoundCloud's quiet addition of an AI training clause to its terms of service has sparked user concern, becoming the latest in a series of controversies where tech companies claim broad rights to use creative content for AI development. This incident highlights the growing tension between digital platforms' AI ambitions and creators' rights to control how their work is used, especially as companies increasingly look to leverage user-generated content for advancing their AI capabilities. The big picture: SoundCloud has joined a growing list of tech companies facing backlash after adding ambiguous AI training provisions to their terms of service without clear...
read May 12, 2025Dismissal of Copyright Office head raises questions of political interference amid AI training drive
The firing of the U.S. Copyright Office's head coincides with a pivotal draft report challenging AI companies' fair use claims for training data. This clash represents a significant escalation in the ongoing battle between content creators and AI developers, potentially reshaping how generative AI companies can legally access and use creative works for model training. The big picture: The U.S. Copyright Office has concluded that AI companies' use of copyrighted materials for training exceeds established fair use doctrines, directly challenging the legal defense used by major tech companies. The termination of Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter occurred just one day...
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