Can AI be an author? Federal Court asked to decide in new copyright case

The Federal Court of Canada is facing a groundbreaking case questioning whether artificial intelligence (AI) can be considered an author under the country's copyright law. The case challenges the registration of an image created by combining a photo with a famous painting using AI. The University of Ottawa's Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic is leading the application to establish that only humans can be authors under the law. This case comes at a crucial time as AI-generated content becomes more prevalent. The debate over AI authorship is part of a larger discussion on how the Copyright Act should address artificial intelligence. The Canadian government is considering different approaches, including whether copyright protection should apply only to human-created works or extend to AI-generated content. The case highlights the complexities and implications of AI in the realm of copyright law, with significant implications for the future of creative works and intellectual property rights.