Research on the Copyright Ownership of Works Generated by Artificial Intelligence

With the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in creative fields, the issue of copyright ownership for AI-generated works has become a topic of intense debate. This paper examines the copyright attribution of such works and the associated legal challenges. Current copyright law exhibits substantial deficiencies in addressing AI-generated content, necessitating a re-examination and adjustment of relevant legal provisions. By drawing on literature review, case studies, and comparative legal analysis, this paper investigates how different jurisdictions approach and implement legislation in this area. Besides, it develops a systematic framework for the copyright ownership of AI-generated content by analyzing established theories, real-world practices, and future trends, aiming to support the evolution of the legal framework. The analysis unequivocally establishes that artificial intelligence lacks legal personhood under copyright law and should be regarded as a creative tool rather than a rights-holding entity. In contrast, users play a decisive role in the creative process through inputting instructions and adjusting parameters. Therefore, copyright ownership of generated works should reasonably be vested in the users who exercise actual control over the creative process, rather than in the AI itself or its developers.