Cover photo by wagahaiha chitta
As AI technology rapidly evolves, copyright issues between creators and AI companies are emerging. In 2024, German photographer Robert Kneschke filed a lawsuit against the company LAION, which provides datasets for AI image generation, because his photos were included in AI training datasets without permission.
This lawsuit questioned the boundaries between AI and copyright law, resulting in a significant ruling that could impact the future of the creative industry.
Photo by Misa Utsunomiya
Complex Issues Surrounding Copyright Infringement
Kneschke's photos were included in LAION's dataset and used in training models for major AI companies. However, LAION argued that they do not retain copies of images and only provide a database of publicly available internet links.
As a result, the court ruled that LAION's activities are non-commercial and legal under the research exception of Section 60(d) of the German Copyright Act, dismissing Kneschke's claim.
Photo by Tsubasa Mfg
Impact on Creative Activities
This ruling prompts consideration of how creators' rights should be protected against the development of AI technology. For photographers and other creators, the risk of their work being used without permission in AI training data has become apparent.
Furthermore, this court decision may influence the new EU AI laws and is expected to spark further debate between creators and the AI industry.
