Copyright and Contemporary Photographers Using A.I. in Their Work

Bolinas
2 min readMay 9, 2023

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A.I. art generators have been the subject of much debate, particularly regarding the issue of copyright. Many argue that A.I. art generators can create images that are indistinguishable from those created by human artists, which raises concerns about who owns the copyright to these works. Some argue that the algorithm itself owns the copyright, while others believe that the person who created the algorithm is the rightful owner. Additionally, some suggest that copyright laws may need to be updated to accommodate these new technologies.

a pink reverse centaur which is half human and half horse, viewed from 3/4 view behind kneeling on the pink shore with a pink sky, light atmospheric, soft — no horseriding

Chris Wiley’s New Yorker article[1] about Charlie Engman and his use of A.I. in his photography sheds light on the issue of copyright in A.I. art generators. Engman’s attitude toward the issue suggests that he sees little difference between using A.I. to create images and using his own artistic influences to create his work.

It’s important to consider the implications of A.I. art generators and copyright issues. While it’s true that amny artists are influenced by the work of others, A.I. art generators take this to a new level, as they can create convincing work in the style of famous artists. As the use of A.I. in art becomes more widespread, it’s likely that we will see more cases of copyright infringement. It would be up to lawmakers, the art community, and the initial data sources to arrive at a solution that balances the benefits of A.I. art generators with the need to protect copyright holders.

  1. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/a-photographer-embraces-the-alien-logic-of-ai

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