John Grisham, George R.R. Martin and more authors sue OpenAI for copyright infringement::John Grisham, Jodi Picoult and George R
John Grisham, George R.R. Martin and more authors sue OpenAI for copyright infringement::John Grisham, Jodi Picoult and George R
This is going to keep happening until one side wins (I’m with the Authors 100% here)
AI is a complete legal gray area, and will continue to be until precedent is set. Nobody has found what is and isn’t allowed under copyright law yet, and unfortunately I’m pretty sure the judges ruling on this aren’t going to be completely informed
It’s actually not that hard to figure out. It’s not the same thing, but here’s an article by Kit Walsh, who’s a senior staff attorney at the EFF explains how image generators work within the law. The two aren’t exactly the same, but you can see how the concepts would apply. The EFF is a digital rights group who most recently won a historic case: border guards now need a warrant to search your phone.
I am with the authors more like 80% here.
Authors read each others works and are influenced by them and we don’t expect them to go back and buy special licenses for each work that might have influenced their current novels. Art as much as any field stands on the shoulders of mice and giants alike. Pretending that AI language models shouldn’t “read” as many novels as possible to assist their own growth is a preposterous idea.
Should they have to buy a copy of the book like everyone else? Sure. Should they get bent over without lube by publishing companies? Well that is a bit more complex.
In my opinion there is no “right” answer right now. We as a society need to decide what we are okay with.
Furthermore, there are a lot of really good books out there that would be truly great “except”. Except what? That depends. Maybe it has annoying side characters, or maybe it is littered with plot holes, maybe there are outdated social norms that distract from the real point of the book, or maybe the fact that not one character in the book looks or talks like you and your friends.
It would be wonderful if we could use AI to adjust or even personalize those books.
Can you imagine a Harry Potter that isn’t just translated into other languages, but has each of the characters localized as well. Neither Harry Potter being British nor being male is fundamental to the story. There is no reason the French, Aria Potter couldn’t save the world through the power of her mother’s love, and with the help of her friends. Well except the fact that it would likely make JKR lose her mind, since she doesn’t even tolerate fan fiction.
Is it possible to make these changes now, sure? It just isn’t really practical for even really big name authors, much someone who only sells a few thousand copies of each book.