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Artificial Intelligence and the EU Copyright Framework: The CJEU’s Subjective Originality Requirement

Olsson, Emelie LU (2022) LAGF03 20221
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the creative sector brings about new legal challenges. This thesis examines originality and creativity within the EU copyright framework by drawing on historical developments in copyright law, such as the introduction of photography, and the modern copyright environment of the information age. The concepts of ‘work’ and ‘originality’ are analysed in the Court of Justice of the European Union’s (CJEU) case law, demonstrating the EU’s subjective copyright standard, which emphasises creative choices presumed to reflect the author’s personality, i.e. a highly anthropomorphised view of originality. While the law, conservative as it refers back to precedent, tends to lag behind... (More)
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the creative sector brings about new legal challenges. This thesis examines originality and creativity within the EU copyright framework by drawing on historical developments in copyright law, such as the introduction of photography, and the modern copyright environment of the information age. The concepts of ‘work’ and ‘originality’ are analysed in the Court of Justice of the European Union’s (CJEU) case law, demonstrating the EU’s subjective copyright standard, which emphasises creative choices presumed to reflect the author’s personality, i.e. a highly anthropomorphised view of originality. While the law, conservative as it refers back to precedent, tends to lag behind technology, sui generis legislation does not seem necessary in order to protect AI-generated works since the creation process tends to entail some degree of human involvement. Such involvement would likely suffice for the EU’s anthropocentric originality standard. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Framväxandet av artificiell intelligens (AI) inom den kreativa sektorn ger upphov till nya juridiska utmaningar. Den här uppsatsen undersöker originalitet och kreativitet inom EU:s upphovsrättsliga ramverk. Utifrån upphovsrättens historiska utveckling (exempelvis fotograferingens tillkomst) och informationsålderns moderna upphovsrättsmiljö analyseras koncepten ‘verk’ och ‘originalitet’ i EU-domstolens rättspraxis. Av denna analys framgår att det EU-rättsliga originalitetsbegreppet är subjektivt och innefattar kreativa val som förutsätts reflektera skaparens personlighet; en antropomorfiserad syn på originalitet. Lagen, naturligt konservativ då den blickar tillbaka på föregående rättsfall, tenderar att släpa efter den teknologiska... (More)
Framväxandet av artificiell intelligens (AI) inom den kreativa sektorn ger upphov till nya juridiska utmaningar. Den här uppsatsen undersöker originalitet och kreativitet inom EU:s upphovsrättsliga ramverk. Utifrån upphovsrättens historiska utveckling (exempelvis fotograferingens tillkomst) och informationsålderns moderna upphovsrättsmiljö analyseras koncepten ‘verk’ och ‘originalitet’ i EU-domstolens rättspraxis. Av denna analys framgår att det EU-rättsliga originalitetsbegreppet är subjektivt och innefattar kreativa val som förutsätts reflektera skaparens personlighet; en antropomorfiserad syn på originalitet. Lagen, naturligt konservativ då den blickar tillbaka på föregående rättsfall, tenderar att släpa efter den teknologiska utvecklingen, men i det här fallet verkar ingen sui generis lagstiftning behövas för att skydda AI-genererade verk, så länge som en människa medverkar i skapandeprocessen och kravet på kreativa val som reflekterar skaparens personlighet på så sätt uppfylls. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Olsson, Emelie LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20221
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
EU law, intellectual property law, artificial intelligence, copyright
language
English
id
9089062
date added to LUP
2022-09-23 14:47:21
date last changed
2022-09-23 14:47:21
@misc{9089062,
  abstract     = {{The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the creative sector brings about new legal challenges. This thesis examines originality and creativity within the EU copyright framework by drawing on historical developments in copyright law, such as the introduction of photography, and the modern copyright environment of the information age. The concepts of ‘work’ and ‘originality’ are analysed in the Court of Justice of the European Union’s (CJEU) case law, demonstrating the EU’s subjective copyright standard, which emphasises creative choices presumed to reflect the author’s personality, i.e. a highly anthropomorphised view of originality. While the law, conservative as it refers back to precedent, tends to lag behind technology, sui generis legislation does not seem necessary in order to protect AI-generated works since the creation process tends to entail some degree of human involvement. Such involvement would likely suffice for the EU’s anthropocentric originality standard.}},
  author       = {{Olsson, Emelie}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Artificial Intelligence and the EU Copyright Framework: The CJEU’s Subjective Originality Requirement}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}