Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 31 JULY 2024

Authorship In AI-Generated Works: Who Owns The Copyright?

MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Contributor
MLT Aikins LLP

MLT Aikins LLP

FIRM OVERVIEW MLT Aikins is a full-service business law firm of more than 375 lawyers with a deep...

View firm profile
Explore more from MLT Aikins LLP

Interestingly, Canadians may soon receive guidance from the Federal Court of Canada on whether AI can be considered an "author" with respect to copyright registrations on AI-generated works.

CanadaTechnology
Kristél Kriel
Kristél Kriel
Jacob Paczko
Jacob Paczko
Author LinkedIn connections

Artificial-intelligence (AI) has taken the modern world by storm. While AI may be an amazing tool with vast opportunities for innovation, this rapidly evolving technology also challenges modern legal systems, including Canada's intellectual property (IP) regime.

Interestingly, Canadians may soon receive guidance from the Federal Court of Canada on whether AI can be considered an "author" with respect to copyright registrations on AI-generated works.

Recently, the Samuelson-Glushko Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) filed an application to expunge or amend a copyright registration for the visual artwork Suryast. According to the registration, which was obtained in December 2021, the artwork's authors are both "Ankit Sahni" and "RAGHAV Artificial Intelligence Painting App." Mr. Sahni used the generative AI's functions to combine his own photo of a sunset with Vincent van Gogh's famous painting The Starry Night.

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

New AI Safety Standard Relevant To Canadian School Boards

A major U.S. vendor agreement has established a rigorous new AI safety standard for educational technology, prohibiting the use of student data for AI training and enforcing strict data minimization. While the standard does not directly bind vendors in Canada, Canadian school boards can leverage this precedent to demand equivalent contractual protections and strengthen their own AI governance frameworks.
CanadaTechnology
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Article

Implications Of Bill C-34, Canada’s Proposed Online Safety Framework, For Organizations

Canada's proposed Digital Safety Act introduces sweeping new obligations for social media platforms, AI chatbots, and interactive online services, requiring operators to protect children, mitigate harmful content, and implement age-verification measures. Organizations face substantial penalties of up to 5% of global revenue for non-compliance, backed by a new federal regulator with broad enforcement powers. What steps should your organization take now to prepare for this emerging regulatory framework?
CanadaPrivacy
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

Amendments Streamline Project List Under Impact Assessment Act

The Government of Canada has amended regulations under the Impact Assessment Act to streamline environmental reviews for major infrastructure projects, particularly interprovincial pipelines. These changes shift regulatory responsibility for certain energy projects to the Canada Energy Regulator while removing other project types from federal review following the Supreme Court's 2024 constitutional ruling.
CanadaEnvironment
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

President Trump Announces U.S. Counter-tariffs On Canada: Are They Lawful?

President Trump has invoked Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose new counter-tariffs on Canadian goods including dairy, alcohol, motorcycles, and metal products. The legality of this rarely-used statutory provision remains untested in court, raising questions about presidential tariff authority under the U.S. Constitution. Legal scholars debate whether Section 338 has been superseded by later trade legislation, while the administration argues Canada's retaliatory measures constitute discriminator
GlobalInternational Law
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP
Article

Permit Me To Explain: Bill C-39’s Plan To Build Canada Faster

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, proposing to compress federal project approval timelines from five years to one year through consolidated permitting and streamlined processes. The legislation also modernizes transportation infrastructure through National Trade Corridors and reforms labour relations by strengthening collective bargaining while clarifying ministerial powers to intervene in work stoppages.
CanadaGovernment, Public Sector
MLT Aikins LLP
MLT Aikins LLP