Category: Copyright

Celebrate Public Domain Day 2024 with us: Weird Tales from the Public Domain

by Creative Commons Copyright
A clipped image with “Original art by illustrator Freya C. Morgan”. Internet Archive.

Join Creative Commons, Internet Archive, and many other leaders from the open world to celebrate Public Domain Day 2024. The mouse that became Mickey will finally be free of his corporate captivity as the copyright term of the 1928 animated Disney film, Steamboat Willie, expires along with that of thousands of other cultural works on…

CC’s Key Insights from WIPO’s Meeting on Copyright

by Brigitte Vézina, Catherine Stihler Copyright, Open Heritage
A screenshot of the SCCR webcasting with Brigitte Vézina delivering a statement on behalf of Creative Commons. “WIPO SSCR Screenshot” by Creative Commons is licensed via CC BY 4.0.

From 6 to 8 November 2023, Creative Commons participated remotely in the 44th session of the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights. In this blog post, we look back on the session’s highlights on broadcasting, exceptions and limitations, and generative AI, from CC’s perspective.

CC Responds to the United States Copyright Office Notice of Inquiry on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence

by Creative Commons Better Internet, Copyright, Licenses & Tools, Technology
Generated by AI: A white robot with a look of concentration on their face, wearing a red cap and robe, painting an empty gold picture frame with a brush that has an abstract flower growing up from its handle. Detail from “AI Outputs” by CC0.

In August, the United States Copyright Office issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking public responses to 34 questions (and several sub-questions) about the intersection of copyright law and artificial intelligence. The comment period closed on 30 October with over 10,000 individuals and organizations responding, representing a broad spectrum of interests on how copyright should apply in relation to generative AI. CC joined in the conversation to provide our own thoughts on copyright and AI to the copyright office.

CC Defends Better Sharing and the Commons in WIPO Conversation on Generative AI

by Brigitte Vézina Better Internet, Copyright, Open Culture
A World Intellectual Property Organization title slide saying Ms. Brigitte Vézina, Director, Policy and Open Culture, Creative Commons, decorated with purple and green abstract shapes and a large, gray number 8, next to a screen capture of Brigitte Vézina smiling and wearing earbuds. “This modified screen capture of video from WIPO Conversation on Intellectual Property (IP) and Frontier Technologies Eighth Session” by WIPO is licensed via CC BY 4.0.

Today Creative Commons (CC) delivered a statement to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Conversation on Generative AI and Intellectual Property, as part of our engagement in global policy discussions around the important issues raised by these new technologies and their impact on creativity, the commons, and better sharing, i.e. sharing that is inclusive, equitable,…

CC Joins Key AI Panel in Brussels

by Creative Commons Copyright
A heavily pixelated blue European Union flag with pixels scattered across it in different colors. “EU Pixelated” by Creative Commons was cropped from an image generated by the DALL-E 2 AI platform with the text prompt “pixel art of computer code streaming across an EU flag.” CC dedicates any rights it holds to the image to the public domain via CC0.

As a part of CC’s continuing engagement in policy to shape generative artificial intelligence (AI), Brigitte Vézina, our Director of Policy and Open Culture, participated in a June session hosted by the European Internet Forum: Generative AI, Art & copyright: from creative machines to human-powered tools. The panel was held in the framework of EU…

European Parliament Gives Green Light to AI Act, Moving EU Toward Finalizing the World’s Leading Regulation of AI

by Creative Commons Copyright

Today, the European Parliament (EP) adopted its position in plenary on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. This is the culmination of a months-long process whereby thousands of pages of amended text have been pored over by policymakers, civil society and industry alike. The strong, cross-party endorsement (499 votes in favor, 28 against and 93 abstentions)…

Everything might be OK! Warhol v. Goldsmith

by Kat Walsh, Stephen Wolfson Copyright
An orange and black Andy Warhol silk-screen painting of Prince, circa 1984. “Orange Prince” by Andy Warhol.

The United States Supreme Court released its opinion today in Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith. While it’s hard to predict the full ramifications of this decision at this point, our initial opinion is that this decision is not ideal, but also not the death knell for transformative fair use that many feared it could have…

Knowledge & Cultural Institutions Defend Net Neutrality in EU

by Creative Commons Copyright
A photo of The EU Flag overlayed on top of statues of Castor and Pollux

"The EU Flag and Castor and Pollux" by waldopics is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .

Earlier this year, the European Commission started a new consultation on “The future of the electronic communications sector and its infrastructure.” On the one hand, it’s good that policymakers are examining how to expand broadband access and ensure the capacity of networks continues to expand and support helpful innovation. On the other hand, the consultation…