Beyond Human Authorship: Rethinking Copyright Ownership in the Age of Autonomous Artificial Intelligence

The accelerating capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are profoundly reshaping the dynamics of creativity and the protection of intellectual property. As AI systems independently generate music, art, literature, and code, longstanding copyright principles, especially the requirement of human authorship, face unprecedented legal and philosophical strain. This paper critically examines the ambiguity surrounding the copyright status of AI-generated works, dissecting the foundational doctrines of originality, authorship, and ownership. Through a comprehensive comparative analysis of legal frameworks in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, the European Union, and Tanzania, the study reveals a fractured global approach and pressing need for harmonised regulatory responses. It evaluates emerging case law and regulatory proposals while advocating for a sui generis legal regime that addresses the realities of autonomous creativity, safeguards human innovation, and ensures equitable rights allocation in the digital era. Employing doctrinal and comparative methodologies, the paper contributes meaningful insight to the future of copyright in an age where machines are increasingly indistinguishable from creators.