News/Copyright
Studio Ghibli may sue OpenAI over viral AI-generated art mimicking its style
The viral ChatGPT "Ghibli style" trend has sparked new debates around AI copyright implications for iconic visual styles, potentially setting significant legal precedents for creative industries. As OpenAI scrambles to block these image generation requests, legal experts suggest the situation could lead to a landmark case exploring whether AI companies can be held accountable for mimicking distinctive artistic aesthetics—pushing the boundaries of what qualifies as protected intellectual property in the AI era. The big picture: Studio Ghibli may have legal grounds to sue OpenAI over the viral trend of AI-generated images mimicking the iconic Japanese animation studio's distinctive style, according...
read Apr 3, 2025Court ruling: AI-generated child sexual abuse images protected for private possession, not distribution
A recent court ruling on AI-generated child sexual exploitation material highlights the delicate balance between First Amendment protections and fighting digital child abuse. The decision in a case involving AI-created obscene images establishes important precedent for how the legal system will address synthetic child sexual abuse material, while clarifying that prosecutors have effective tools to pursue offenders despite constitutional constraints on criminalizing private possession. The legal distinction: A U.S. district court opinion differentiates between private possession of AI-generated obscene material and acts of production or distribution, establishing important boundaries for prosecutions in the emerging field of synthetic child sexual abuse...
read Apr 3, 2025OpenAI’s Ghibli-style AI art trend sparks viral delight and ethical debate
OpenAI's latest image generator has sparked a viral trend of Studio Ghibli-style AI art across social media platforms, highlighting both the technology's impressive capabilities and the ethical questions it raises. The phenomenon demonstrates the tension between rapid AI advancement and traditional artistic values, particularly as users reimagine everything from classic films to viral memes in the distinctive style of the beloved Japanese animation studio, whose co-founder has previously expressed strong opposition to AI-generated art. The big picture: OpenAI's GPT-4o update has stunned users with its ability to generate images and videos mimicking recognizable animation styles, with Studio Ghibli imitations quickly...
read Apr 2, 2025Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda slams OpenAI’s Ghibli-style images amid artistic and ethical concerns
OpenAI's latest image generation technology has sparked controversy by replicating Studio Ghibli's iconic animation style, creating tension between AI advancement and artistic integrity. The viral trend of "Ghibli-fied" images has drawn criticism from Zelda Williams, daughter of Robin Williams, who highlighted both ethical concerns and environmental impacts. Her objections align with Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki's longstanding opposition to AI in creative work, raising important questions about artistic ownership in an era of increasingly sophisticated AI image generation. The controversy: Zelda Williams publicly criticized the viral trend of Studio Ghibli-style AI-generated images on Instagram, citing ethical and environmental concerns. "People...
read Apr 1, 2025Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” box office re-success comes as OpenAI mimics its iconic style
Studio Ghibli's "Princess Mononoke" 4K re-release is making waves at the box office while the animation studio indirectly responds to AI controversies. The 1997 classic generated $1.2 million in preview showings across 330 IMAX screens, with Gkids' statement emphasizing the value of hand-drawn animation just as OpenAI's latest image generator sparked controversy for mimicking Ghibli's distinctive style. This timing highlights the ongoing tension between traditional animation craftsmanship and emerging AI technologies that attempt to replicate established artistic styles. The timing speaks volumes: Gkids' statement about "Princess Mononoke" appears to indirectly address the controversy surrounding OpenAI's new image generator. Chance Huskey,...
read Mar 31, 2025H&M’s digital twin models spark debate over AI’s impact on fashion workers
Red carpets, red flags? H&M's plan to create digital twins of fashion models signals a significant shift in how the fashion industry is embracing AI technology. This development highlights the tension between technological innovation and labor rights in creative industries, raising important questions about consent, compensation, and the future of human work in an increasingly AI-driven world. The big picture: Fashion retail giant H&M plans to create 30 "digital twins" of its models in 2025, joining other major brands experimenting with AI-generated imagery in fashion. The company claims models would own the rights to their digital replicas and "get paid...
read Mar 28, 2025Court ruling allows publishers to pursue copyright claims against AI companies
A federal court ruling has opened the door for news publishers to pursue copyright claims against AI companies, marking a significant development in the ongoing tension between journalism and artificial intelligence. The judge's decision to allow most claims to proceed establishes a potential precedent for how copyright law applies to AI training on published content, highlighting the complex balance between technological innovation and protecting intellectual property in news media. The big picture: A federal judge has allowed The New York Times and other newspapers to proceed with most of their copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft over the use of...
read Mar 27, 2025AI-generated Trump portraits in Studio Ghibli style spark artistic controversy
The AI-generated "Studio Ghibli-style" Trump portraits are the latest example of how OpenAI's new image generation capabilities are rapidly inspiring creative and controversial applications. The trend highlights ongoing tensions between AI developers, traditional artists, and public figures as generated content increasingly blurs stylistic boundaries. This collision of cutting-edge AI technology with beloved artistic styles raises important questions about creative attribution, consent, and the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and human artistic expression. Why it matters: OpenAI's most advanced image generator, built into GPT-4o, has demonstrated surprising visual fluency in replicating Studio Ghibli's distinctive anime style, prompting users to reimagine political...
read Mar 27, 2025Taylor & Francis uses AI to translate academic books from 30+ languages into English
Taylor & Francis is pioneering AI-assisted book translation to significantly expand the availability of academic content that would otherwise remain inaccessible to English-speaking audiences. This initiative represents a significant shift in academic publishing, balancing technological innovation with traditional publishing values while raising important questions about the future of translation work and the ethics of AI in scholarly communication. The big picture: Taylor & Francis will use AI to translate academic books into English from languages that typically don't justify the costs of human translation, following a year of rigorous testing to ensure accuracy. The publisher will accept works in over...
read Mar 24, 2025Publishers take legal stand against AI training on copyrighted books
It's East Coast legacy publishing vs. West Coast tech. The publishing industry finds itself locked in an escalating legal battle with tech companies over AI training on copyrighted books, with major implications for intellectual property rights in the digital age. As AI development races forward, publishers are fighting to establish precedents that protect authors' works while acknowledging the need for responsible innovation, creating tension between traditional copyright protections and technological advancement. The big picture: Publishing industry organizations including the AAP and AUP have escalated their AI copyright concerns to the White House, responding to the administration's request for input on...
read Mar 24, 2025Busywork: Cloudflare’s AI Labyrinth feeds fake content to data-scraping bots
Cloudflare's new "AI Labyrinth" feature introduces a creative defense mechanism against unauthorized AI data scraping, offering website owners a way to protect their content by serving deceptive AI-generated content to bots. This approach represents a significant shift in the ongoing battle between content creators and AI companies collecting training data without permission, potentially influencing how web infrastructure providers address the growing challenge of AI crawlers that now generate over 50 billion daily requests across Cloudflare's network. The big picture: Cloudflare has launched "AI Labyrinth," a system designed to combat unauthorized AI data scraping by feeding fake AI-generated content to bots...
read Mar 20, 2025Me, you, and celebrities too: Loti AI opens deepfake detection to the public, not just VIPs
Deepfake detection is experiencing a critical democratization as threats to personal digital identity move beyond public figures to everyday citizens. Loti AI's expansion of its detection technology to all users signals a significant shift in how society approaches synthetic media protection and digital reputation management. This move highlights the growing recognition that personal image protection should be a universally accessible right rather than a privilege limited to celebrities. The big picture: Loti AI has opened access to its deepfake detection and takedown service to the general public, expanding beyond its previous exclusive availability to celebrities and public figures. The company,...
read Mar 20, 2025Meta’s use of LibGen’s pirated books for AI training ignites copyright debate
Does information really want to be free? LibGen has emerged as a significant force in unauthorized digital book distribution, gaining attention after Meta reportedly used its database of pirated books to train AI models. This shadow library contains millions of copyrighted books and scientific papers, serving as both a literary resource for those without access and a flashpoint in publishing industry battles over intellectual property rights and AI training data. The big picture: LibGen (Library Genesis) hosts millions of pirated books and academic papers, operating as one of the largest unauthorized digital libraries in existence. The site gained renewed attention...
read Mar 20, 2025Not Quite Human: AI cannot legally be considered an author for copyright protection, says court
A landmark copyright ruling reaffirms that AI cannot legally be considered an author, dealing a significant blow to efforts to expand intellectual property protections to machine-generated works. This decision highlights the growing tension between rapidly evolving AI capabilities and legal frameworks designed for human creativity, and establishes an important precedent as generative AI continues to produce increasingly sophisticated creative content. The big picture: A federal appeals court unanimously ruled that copyright law requires human authorship, rejecting computer scientist Stephen Thaler's attempt to register an AI-created artwork. Judge Patricia Millett's opinion stated that "human authorship is required for registration" because many...
read Mar 19, 2025Instagram’s disturbing new trend: AI-generated disability fetish accounts for profit
Instagram is enabling a disturbing new trend of AI-generated content that exploits and fetishizes people with disabilities for profit. The platform has become ground zero for a growing network of accounts using artificial intelligence to create fake influencers with Down syndrome who sell nude content on adult platforms. This practice represents a dangerous evolution of "AI pimping" — where content thieves use AI to modify stolen material, creating specialized fetish content that simultaneously exploits real creators and harmfully objectifies marginalized groups. The big picture: A network of Instagram accounts is using AI to steal content from human creators and deepfake...
read Mar 19, 202575% of Spanish publishing pros see AI adoption as inevitable, creatives more concerned than biz veterans
Spanish publishing industry professionals overwhelmingly recognize that artificial intelligence adoption is inevitable, with many seeing it as a positive force for innovation and efficiency. A new study from Proyecto451 reveals a nuanced landscape where industry veterans largely welcome AI tools for their cost-saving potential, while freelancers and creative professionals express concern about job displacement and quality degradation. This tension reflects the broader global conversation about balancing AI's productivity benefits against potential creative and economic disruptions. The big picture: More than 75% of publishing professionals in Spanish-speaking markets believe AI adoption in publishing is unavoidable, while only 16.9% expect it won't...
read Mar 17, 2025Actor Ashly Burch literally gives voice to SAG-AFTRA strike against Sony and co.
The gaming industry faces a growing tension between technological innovation and the rights of voice actors as AI voice replication capabilities advance. Ashly Burch, whose performance as Aloy has been central to the PlayStation "Horizon" franchise's success, is raising ethical concerns about an unauthorized AI replication of her character, highlighting broader questions about consent, compensation, and artistic integrity within the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike against game developers. The controversy: Ashly Burch, voice of Aloy in the "Horizon" PlayStation games, expressed alarm over an internal Sony tech demo featuring an AI imitation of her character. The leaked footage showed an AI-puppeted version...
read Mar 17, 2025Ultimate Trump Card: OpenAI, Google urge AI training on copyrighted content, citing national security
OpenAI and Google are urging the U.S. government to permit AI training on copyrighted materials, framing it as a critical national security issue. Their proposals, submitted in response to President Trump's "AI Action Plan," highlight concerns that restrictive copyright policies could undermine America's competitive edge against China. This debate highlights the tension between protecting intellectual property and fostering AI innovation, especially as both companies face multiple lawsuits over their use of copyrighted content. The big picture: OpenAI and Google are lobbying for AI copyright exemptions, claiming America's global AI leadership is at stake. OpenAI explicitly frames the issue as "a...
read Mar 12, 2025Steve Harvey partners with Vermillio to protect fans from AI deepfake scams
Finally, AI safety with teeth. Renowned entertainer Steve Harvey is taking proactive steps to combat the rising threat of AI-generated deepfakes by partnering with Vermillio, a specialized protection platform. This move highlights the growing concern among public figures about unauthorized digital impersonation, which not only threatens personal brands but can also potentially harm fans through scams and misinformation. Harvey's initiative represents an emerging trend of celebrities seeking technological solutions to maintain control over their digital presence. Why this matters: The partnership signals a growing recognition among public figures that AI protection has become a necessity in an era where unauthorized...
read Mar 5, 2025Now hear this: Vermillio secures $16 million from Sony Music and DNS Capital
As artificial intelligence reshapes the creative industries, protecting intellectual property has become a critical challenge for artists and media companies. Vermillio's innovative approach to AI licensing and protection, backed by major industry players like Sony Music Entertainment, signals a shift toward more ethical and controlled use of creative content in AI development. The big picture: Vermillio has secured $16 million in Series A funding from Sony Music Entertainment and DNS Capital to protect creative rights as generative AI transforms artistic consent, credit, and compensation frameworks. Key details: The platform leverages TracelDTM technology to monitor IP and NIL content, manage takedowns,...
read Feb 25, 2025UK newspapers launch coordinated AI protest in name of copyright protection
The UK media industry is grappling with proposed government changes that would allow AI companies to train their models on copyrighted content without permission. Major newspapers and creative organizations have launched coordinated protests against these proposals, which they argue could severely impact the UK's $152 billion creative sector. The big picture: UK newspapers have united in an unprecedented display of solidarity, featuring identical bright blue front pages with the "Make It Fair" campaign message to protest proposed changes to copyright law. The campaign coincides with the closure of a public consultation period that began December 17th, which sought feedback on...
read Feb 25, 2025British musicians release silent album in protest against AI
Recent developments in artificial intelligence regulation have sparked tension between UK lawmakers and the creative community, particularly around proposed changes to AI legislation. In February 2025, prominent British musicians launched an innovative form of protest against these regulatory shifts, expressing deep concerns about their artistic rights. The protest strategy: Several iconic British musicians, including Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, Cat Stevens, and Blur's Damon Albarn, released a "silent album" as a symbolic statement against proposed changes to UK AI laws. The unconventional protest format of a silent album serves as a powerful metaphor for artists' fears about losing their voice and...
read Feb 24, 2025Protecting human intellectual property in the AI era
The entertainment industry is grappling with the impact of artificial intelligence on human creativity and content creation, particularly following the 2023 SAG strike. Now, a new study by the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers is predicting significant revenue losses for human creators due to AI competition. Key findings and projections: The European study estimates that AI will reduce human content creator revenues by 21-24% by 2028, representing approximately €22 billion in lost earnings. The research examined the impact across various creative fields, including music, literature, visual arts, and storytelling Experts anticipate that tech companies will be the...
read Feb 12, 2025US Copyright Office publishes new report on impact of AI on copyright economics
The U.S. Copyright Office has released a new publication examining the economic intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright policy, drawing from months of expert discussions and research. The study, produced by a group of economic scholars, aims to establish a framework for understanding how AI development impacts traditional copyright economic structures. Project Overview: The publication titled "Identifying the Economic Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Copyright Policy: Context and Direction for Economic Research" represents a collaborative effort to analyze the complex relationship between AI and copyright economics. The project involved several months of substantive discussions, consultation with technical experts, and research...
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