December, 2023

The Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft Over A.I. Use of Copyrighted Work

The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement on Wednesday, opening a new front in the increasingly intense legal battle over the unauthorized use of published work to train artificial intelligence technologies. The lawsuit, filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan, contends that millions of articles published by The Times were used to train automated chatbots that now compete with the news outlet as a source of reliable information.

Source: The Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft Over A.I. Use of Copyrighted Work

AI image-generators are being trained on explicit photos of children, a study shows

Hidden inside the foundation of popular artificial intelligence image-generators are thousands of images of child sexual abuse, according to a new report that urges companies to take action to address a harmful flaw in the technology they built. Those same images have made it easier for AI systems to produce realistic and explicit imagery of fake children as well as transform social media photos of fully clothed real teens into nudes.

Source: AI image-generators are being trained on explicit photos of children, a study shows

Why Google’s lobbying in California skyrocketed this year

The 30-second video ad struck an ominous tone, urging Californians to tell their lawmakers to vote against legislation that would force Google, Facebook and other large platforms to pay news publishers. The ad stated that it was “paid for” by the California Taxpayers Assn., a nonprofit advocacy group, but it really was bankrolled by Google.

Source: Why Google’s lobbying in California skyrocketed this year

Copilot users can create their own AI songs with the new Suno AI plug-in

Microsoft’s AI chatbot Copilot will now be able to churn out AI songs on demand — thanks to a new plug-in with Suno. The Cambridge-based AI music startup offers a tool on Discord that can compose an original song — complete with lyrics — based on a text prompt. Now, Copilot users will be able to access Suno using the Microsoft chatbot.

Source: Copilot users can create their own AI songs with the new Suno AI plug-in

AI cannot patent inventions, UK Supreme Court confirms

Technologist Dr Stephen Thaler had sought to have his AI, called Dabus, recognised as the inventor of a food container and a flashing light beacon. But in 2019, the intellectual property office (IPO) rejected this, saying only a person could be named as an inventor. Now five Supreme Court judges have dismissed a bid to reverse those decisions, concluding that “an inventor must be a person”, and that an AI cannot be named as an inventor to secure patent rights.

Source: AI cannot patent inventions, UK Supreme Court confirms

Revealing Sources: The News on AI

For news publishers, AI can giveth, and AI can taketh away. On the latter side of the ledger, publishers are in a cold sweat over Google’s “Search Generative Experience,” (SGE) product, which the search giant has been testing for the past several months. The tool, trained in part on publishers’ content, uses AI to generate fulsome responses to users’ search queries, rather than merely providing links to websites where answers might be found.

Last week, the Arkansas-based publisher Helena World Chronicle filed a prospective class-action lawsuit against Google, accusing the search giant of anti-competitive practices and specifically citing Search Generative Experience.

Hipgnosis Delays Half-Year Financial Results Over Valuation Concerns

Hipgnosis Songs Fund has announced a last-second delay in publishing interim results for the six months ended Sept. 30, citing concerns over its valuation following a series of hiccups for the Merck Mercuriadis-led company. In explaining the delay, the Hipgnosis board said the valuation it received from an independent firm was “materially higher than the valuation implied by proposed and recent transactions in the sector.”

Source: Hipgnosis Delays Half-Year Financial Results Over Valuation Concerns

Authors and artificial intelligence: what next?

Although no plans for comprehensive regulation have yet been announced, the UK government is developing a code of practice to govern the use of copyrighted works by AI companies. AI capabilities are developing at a rapid pace and this constantly shifting landscape risks making any code of conduct redundant unless it is underpinned by high-level principles that are clear and stable.

Source: Authors and artificial intelligence: what next?

Internet Archive Seeks Reversal in Book Scanning Suit

In a highly anticipated appeal brief, officials at the Internet Archive argued that district court judge John G. Koeltl misunderstood the facts and misapplied the law in finding that the IA’s scanning and lending of print library books infringed publishers’ copyrights,  telling the U.S. Court of Appeals for Second Circuit the decision should be reversed.

Source: Internet Archive Seeks Reversal in Book Scanning Suit

Universal Music Takes Aim At Fake AI Tracks Fetching Thousands

Universal Music Group says fake AI ‘pre-release’ tracks are fetching between $5,000 and $30,000 apiece as part of elaborate scams. The Big Three label shed light upon the little-discussed and decidedly lucrative AI practice in a recent contribution to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Entitled “Artificial Intelligence in the Music Industry: Its Use by Pirates and Right Holders” and penned specifically by UMG VP of global content protection Graeme Grant.

Source: Universal Music Takes Aim At Fake AI Tracks Fetching Thousands

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