Theory and practice of intellectual property
№ 6 / 2021
ISSN (Print) 2308-0361
ISSN (Online) 2519-2744
PDF (Ukrainian)DOI: https://doi.org/10.33731/62021.248986
Published 2021-12-27
Review of the theoretical approaches regarding the legal protection of objects generated by artificial intelligence systems in the field of copyright and related rights
Kostiantyn Zerov
Ukraine
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2916-7528
Abstract
The publication provides a descriptive review of existing theoretical approaches regarding the legal protection of objects generated by artificial intelligence systems in the field of copyright and related rights, namely.
1) The inexpediency of legal protection of computer-generated objects. It is concluded that the absence of legal regulation and free circulation of generated objects is considered the easiest option. Still, hardly fair and justified, as the creation of artificial intelligence systems requires large and significant investments in their development.
2) The possibility of protecting computer-generated objects by copyright as original works. It has been established that extending the concept of «originality» to computer-generated objects seems unjustifiable.
3) The introduction of the latest iteration of the fiction theory and establishing a special legal status for artificial intelligence systems. It is noted that such an approach seems premature because the existing artificial intelligence systems are a manifestation of «narrow» or «weak» artificial intelligence and not artificial general intelligence.
4) Protection of specific generated objects through related rights. It is concluded that the objects generated by AI systems may be protected in Ukraine through the prism of related rights, under the condition that the relevant object can be attributed to a phonogram, videogram, or broadcast (program) of broadcasters respectively.
5) Protection of generated objects through a special legal regime under copyright law. It is described that this approach cannot be considered a universal example for imitating the legal protection of objects generated by computer programs because its application leaves more questions and inconsistencies than solving the problem on the merits.
6) Protection of generated objects through sui generis law. It is assumed that applying such an approach to the protection of objects generated by computer programs will not lead to significant changes in copyright and will protect the interests and investments of developers of artificial intelligence systems.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, copyright, related rights, sui generis
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