Source: Emerging Tech Brew

The legal landscape surrounding copyright and AI training data is evolving with several high-profile cases in US courts. Thomson Reuters recently won a significant case against Ross Intelligence, where the court rejected the defendant’s fair use defense for training AI on copyrighted legal materials. However, this case did not involve generative AI, and experts caution against broad interpretations.

Other lawsuits by media companies against AI labs like OpenAI and Cohere are ongoing, with courts postponing decisions pending further discovery. Legal scholars anticipate conflicting district court rulings, likely culminating in a Supreme Court decision years from now. The fair use doctrine’s application to generative AI remains unsettled, complicated by questions about market harm and licensing. Experts suggest that the judiciary’s eventual stance may be influenced by how AI technology evolves and its societal acceptance. Meanwhile, legislative efforts to clarify AI copyright issues have yet to materialize, leaving courts as the primary arena for resolution.