News Release: Landmark Ruling On AI-Generated Content And Copyright Infringement In China

In a groundbreaking case that underscores the evolving legal landscape surrounding generative artificial intelligence (AI) and intellectual property (IP) rights, the Hangzhou Internet Court  has issued (as maintained by the appellate court) a significant ruling in a dispute involving AI-generated images of the popular Ultraman character. This case marks the first of its kind in China, addressing the liability of AI platforms in copyright infringement disputes.

CaseSummary

The plaintiff, a Shanghai-based company, is the copyright holder of the Ultraman series. It brought a lawsuit against the defendant, a Hangzhou-based AI technology company, for copyright infringements and unfair competition. The defendant operates an AI platform named Tentacle AI (literal translation of its Chinese name) which offers various functionalities, including image generation and model training. The platform featured AI-generated images and models of Ultraman, through which users could