Google’s proposal, suggesting that generative AI systems should be permitted to mine publishers’ content unless companies choose to opt-out, has ignited a debate on copyright law and its potential impact on content creators.
In its submission to Australia’s AI regulatory framework review, Google advocates for copyright adjustments to accommodate generative AI systems’ internet scraping. The company urges policymakers to establish “copyright systems that enable appropriate and fair use of copyrighted content” while allowing opt-outs for entities that prefer not to have their data utilized in AI training.
This call for fair use and opt-out provisions isn’t new, but the specific proposal for an opt-out system for publishers marks a notable addition to Google’s stance. The company likens it to a community-developed web standard, akin to robots.txt, which permits publishers to prevent search engines from crawling specific parts of their websites.
Experts emphasize the complexity of balancing copyright considerations with AI advancement. Dr. Kayleen Manwaring from UNSW Law and Justice notes that generative AI requires vast amounts of data, potentially leading to copyright breaches. Toby Murray of the University of Melbourne points out that Google’s proposal shifts the responsibility to content creators, potentially impacting smaller creators more significantly.
While Google’s proposal seeks to establish norms, it raises questions about copyright protection and whether AI training sets draw from copyrighted material without proper consent. The ongoing discussions around AI’s interaction with copyright law underscore the need for careful consideration as technology evolves.
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