Midjourney Copyright Law: What AI Artists Need to Know

AI Samson
8 Feb 202417:07

TLDRThe video discusses the legal and ethical implications of AI art generators like Midjourney, which have been accused of using thousands of artists' works without permission to train their algorithms. It details a leaked list of artists allegedly used by Midjourney and the ensuing legal battles, including a class action lawsuit against AI art generators. The video explores the concept of derivative works in the context of AI, the evolution of art and technology, and the potential impact on artists' livelihoods. It also touches on the broader debate about imitation and creativity in art, and how some artists are adapting and embracing AI technology to create new works. The speaker argues for a forward-thinking approach, suggesting that society must evolve with technology, even if it challenges current copyright laws and the traditional concept of authorship.

Takeaways

  • 🚨 Thousands of artists are taking legal action against AI art generators like Midjourney, claiming their work was used without consent to train AI systems.
  • πŸ” A leaked list reveals specific artists whose styles were used to train Midjourney, causing controversy and legal disputes.
  • πŸ€– Midjourney's CEO, David Holtz, acknowledges that the AI was trained on around 4,000 artist names, not just genres.
  • πŸ“š Artist John Lamb released evidence of Midjourney developers discussing the creation of a database for 'laundering' artist styles.
  • 🧐 There's an ongoing debate on whether AI art constitutes a creative act or is merely derivative, with significant copyright implications.
  • 🌐 The leaked conversations suggest that AI can create and train on imitations of an artist's work, making it difficult to trace original sources.
  • πŸ“‰ Artists are concerned that AI-generated art devalues their work and bypasses the need to compensate them for the training of AI systems.
  • πŸ† AI-generated art has already won awards in competitions, raising questions about the authenticity and value of human-created art.
  • πŸ“‰ The legal battle over AI art is expected to be complex and lengthy, with potential outcomes that may come too late for affected artists.
  • 🌟 Some artists, like Sarah Shaquille, have embraced AI technology, using it to expand their creative possibilities and commercial opportunities.
  • πŸ”„ The development and acceptance of AI in creative fields reflect a broader societal trend towards technological evolution and adaptation.

Q & A

  • What is the main issue that artists are rallying against in relation to AI art generators like Midjourney?

    -Artists are rallying against the unauthorized use of their work to train AI art generators such as Midjourney. They argue that their work has been used without consent to create a database that the AI uses to generate art, which they believe infringes on their copyright.

  • What does the leaked list of artists used to train Midjourney include?

    -The leaked list includes over 4,000 artist names that were used to train the Midjourney AI. It also contains screenshots from Discord servers used by the Midjourney team, where they discussed the artists and their work.

  • What is the controversy surrounding the term 'laundering' in the context of AI art generation?

    -The term 'laundering' refers to the process of making it impossible to trace a derivative work in the eyes of copyright law. It suggests that AI art generators create imitations of an artist's work, train the AI on these imitations, and then remove the original art from the database, making it difficult to prove copyright infringement.

  • Why are artists taking legal action against AI art generators in different countries?

    -Artists are taking legal action because they believe AI art generators are using their work without permission and are devaluing their creative contributions. They argue that these AI tools are essentially copyright laundering devices that offer the benefits of art without compensating the original artists.

  • What is the significance of the AI art created by Midjourney winning an art fair competition?

    -The significance is that it sparked a cultural reflection on the legitimacy and ethical considerations of AI-generated art. It raised questions about the role of human creativity in the art-making process and whether AI-generated works can be considered true art.

  • How does the development of AI art generators affect the concept of originality and imitation in art?

    -AI art generators challenge the traditional notions of originality by creating works that closely resemble existing art. This leads to debates about the importance of imitation and inspiration in the creative process and whether AI-generated works can be considered as creative as human-made art.

  • What is the potential impact of generative AI on the job market, according to a recent study mentioned in the script?

    -The study suggests that more than 40% of jobs are likely to be impacted by the development of generative AI. This indicates a broad potential for AI to transform and improve various roles and industries.

  • Why are some artists embracing the use of AI art generators?

    -Some artists see the potential in using AI art generators to create more works in a shorter amount of time. They can use these tools to explore new styles, increase their productivity, and even sell AI-generated art, thus embracing the technological advancements and finding new opportunities within them.

  • What is the role of adaptability and the ability to learn new skills in the context of evolving technology?

    -Adaptability and the ability to learn new skills are crucial for individuals to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Recognizing valuable new skills and being able to quickly learn from different disciplines are key to applying knowledge in creative ways and staying ahead in the industry.

  • What does the speaker suggest as the fundamental process of humanity in relation to technological evolution?

    -The speaker suggests that the fundamental process of humanity is to evolve, change, and develop new technology that makes old technology obsolete. This is a continuous process that will not change and should be embraced rather than resisted.

  • What is the potential implication of AI art generators on the concept of copyright?

    -The development and use of AI art generators could lead to more complex discussions around the nature of copyright. As AI becomes more integrated into various industries, there may be a need to reevaluate and potentially adapt copyright laws to accommodate the new technological capabilities and their impact on creative work.

  • Why is there a debate about the value of artists in the context of AI-generated art?

    -The debate arises because AI-generated art can create pieces that are very similar to works by human artists without directly involving the artists themselves. This raises questions about the value and role of the original artists in the creation of AI-generated works and whether they should be compensated for their contribution to the training of these AI systems.

Outlines

00:00

πŸ€– AI Art Controversy: Legal Battles and Artistic Futures

The video discusses the ongoing legal disputes involving AI art generators like Mid Journey, which are being sued by thousands of artists whose work was allegedly used to train the AI without consent. The script mentions a leaked list of artists used for training and the ensuing debate within the artistic community. It also highlights the views of John Lamb, an artist at Riot Games, who released evidence of Mid Journey's developers discussing the creation and laundering of a database of artists' styles. The video further explores the potential implications of copyright law on AI art and the broader cultural and legal questions that these technologies raise.

05:02

🎨 The Spectrum of AI and Human Creativity in Art

This paragraph delves into the complexities of defining the line between AI-generated and human-created art. It discusses the challenges of proving the provenance of artistic works in the age of AI and the difficulty of attributing creation when it's a spectrum. The script touches on recent events where AI-generated works have won competitions in art and literature, raising questions about the value and recognition of human artists in the face of AI's growing capabilities. It also addresses the lawsuit against AI art generators and the artists' argument that these technologies are primarily used to bypass the need to value and compensate artists for their work.

10:04

πŸš€ Adaptability and the Evolution of Design Skills

The speaker reflects on their career in design, noting the strategic shift from print to digital design and the subsequent changes in job demand and industry competition. They discuss the importance of adaptability and the ability to learn new skills, especially in the context of rapidly evolving technology. The paragraph emphasizes the need for designers to synthesize knowledge from different disciplines and apply it to create meaningful and impactful work. It also mentions how some artists, like Sarah Shaquille, have successfully embraced AI technology to enhance their creative process and generate more works for sale.

15:06

🌐 The Inevitability of AI and Its Impact on Society

The final paragraph focuses on the inevitability of AI's role in society and the potential economic and technological benefits that may lead governments to support generative AI despite legal challenges. It discusses the potential impact of AI on jobs and the importance of recognizing and adapting to technological evolution. The speaker argues for an attitude of embracing and contributing to the development of AI, rather than resisting it. They also highlight the stance of OpenAI, which is advocating for copyright exemptions to continue the development of AI technologies like chat GPT, and the broader debate on the balance between technological progress and existing copyright rights.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Midjourney

Midjourney refers to an AI art generator that has been a focal point of controversy due to its use of artists' styles without their consent. The video discusses the legal and ethical implications of using thousands of artists' styles to train AI without their permission, leading to a lawsuit against the company.

πŸ’‘Copyright Law

Copyright law is the legal framework that protects the rights of creators over their original works. In the context of the video, it is central to the debate over whether AI art generators like Midjourney are infringing on artists' rights by using their styles to create new works without authorization.

πŸ’‘AI Art

AI art refers to the creation of artwork by artificial intelligence. The video explores the implications of AI art on traditional artistic creation, the potential for copyright infringement, and the future of art in the context of AI's evolving capabilities.

πŸ’‘Laundering

In the video, 'laundering' refers to the process of obscuring the origins of an AI's training data to make it difficult to trace derivative works back to their original sources. This is a contentious issue as it relates to the ethical and legal use of artists' styles in AI art generation.

πŸ’‘Derivative Work

A derivative work is a new creation that builds upon or incorporates elements from an existing work. The video discusses the challenges of identifying derivative works in the context of AI art, where the AI can create imitations of an artist's work and then use those imitations to train itself further.

πŸ’‘Imitation

Imitation is a fundamental aspect of learning and creating in the arts, where artists often draw inspiration from existing works. The video examines the role of imitation in AI art generators, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of using imitation to create new works.

πŸ’‘Provenance

Provenance refers to the origin and history of a work of art, which is important for its authenticity and value. The video highlights the complexity of proving the provenance of AI-generated works, as it can be difficult to determine how much of a work is created by AI versus a human artist.

πŸ’‘Class Action Lawsuit

A class action lawsuit is a type of legal action taken by a large group of people with similar claims against another party. The video discusses a class action lawsuit against AI art generators like Midjourney, Stability AI, Runway, and Deviant Art, where artists argue that their work has been used without consent to train AI systems.

πŸ’‘Generative AI

Generative AI refers to AI systems that can create new content, such as images, music, or text, rather than just analyzing existing content. The video touches on the potential impact of generative AI on various industries and the broader societal implications of this technology.

πŸ’‘Adaptability

Adaptability is the ability to adjust to new conditions or challenges. In the context of the video, it is presented as a crucial skill for individuals and society as technology evolves, particularly in relation to the development and integration of AI in various fields.

πŸ’‘Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community offering courses on a wide range of subjects. The video mentions Skillshare as a resource for individuals to invest in their own learning and development, especially in the context of adapting to technological changes and advancements.

Highlights

Thousands of artists are rallying to sue AI art generators like Midjourney over copyright issues.

A secret list of artists used to train Midjourney has been leaked online, causing controversy.

Riot Games artist John Lamb released screenshots and a list of artists used in Midjourney's training.

Midjourney's CEO, David Holtz, confirmed the use of 4,000 artist names in the AI's training.

The lawsuit includes evidence of Midjourney developers discussing the creation of a database of artist styles.

AI art algorithms can create imitation works and train on them, making it difficult to trace original art.

Artists are taking legal action against AI art generators, arguing they devalue the artist's contribution.

The leaked list of artists includes famous names like Pablo Picasso and Damien Hirst.

AI-generated art won an art fair competition in Colorado, sparking debate on the legitimacy of AI art.

There's a complex challenge in proving the provenance of AI-generated works versus human-created works.

A Japanese literature prize was awarded to a book with over 5% written by AI, raising questions about authorship.

US tech firms face a class action lawsuit regarding the use of AI image generators.

Artists argue that AI art generators are primarily used for copyright laundering, undermining the value of artists.

AI art generators are seen by some as a tool for imitation and creativity, echoing sentiments from historical figures.

The speaker reflects on their own work being included in AI training datasets, raising personal questions about imitation.

Adaptability and the ability to synthesize knowledge from different disciplines are key skills in the evolving digital landscape.

Artist Sarah Shaquille has embraced AI technology, using it to create and sell more of her digital art.

Procreate's failure to innovate in the AI space may signal a missed opportunity for the company.

The speaker advocates for embracing technological evolution and finding creative ways to apply it.

Open AI is calling for copyright exemptions to advance AI development, facing its own legal challenges.

The future of AI may require reevaluating traditional copyright laws to accommodate technological progress.