Skip to Main Content

AI basics

We delve into the fascinating realm of GenAI and how you might apply it responsibly to your studies at ACU.

AI & Copyright

  • AI technology is ubiquitous and as a result, the impact on copyright law is varied. The context of how you are using the AI is one of the critical factors in discussing the copyright concerns.
  • AI is not a settled technology. Governments around the world are still evaluating how to legislate copyright concerns of the inputs and outputs of AI.

Current AI and copyright issues

  • Enterprise AIs versus Public AIs

Enterprise AIs are AIs that are not publicly available and are licensed by companies to be used within companies across the companies proprietary data. They usually limit the amount of data being sent back to the AI company for training purposes, as it is proprietary data (trademarks, copyright, trade secrets), or for privacy reasons. Works created by licensed AIs within a licensed company, the copyright would remain with the company.

Public AIs are open to anyone AIs (free or subscription), these AIs are more likely to use any inputs for training the AI (check your terms of service), and it is less likely that outputs have any copyright protection.

  • AIs contained within traditional software.

Many traditional software packages now include an AI within their system, for example Adobe has Firefly. If you have a licence to use the product, then you can use the AI. Check your terms of service for concerns regarding whether inputs are used for training, and whether outputs can be protected by copyright.

  • Copyright ownership of prompts

It is recognised that you can own the copyright of the prompts that you enter into an AI. Standard copyright rules apply.

  • Copyright ownership of outputs

Ownership of copyright works requires sufficient human input. For AIs, this area is controversial at the moment. It is generally thought that there is insufficient human input for an AI's output to be protected by copyright, but this may change in the future.

Do’s and don’ts of copyright and public AI

Do:

  • Check the terms of service to see what the AI will do with the data you input.
  • Reference when you have used an AI output in your work.
  • Keep a record of your prompts when you have used an AI output in your work.

Don’t:

  • Upload any data that may breach the Australian Privacy Act 1988.
  • Submit any personal, confidential, sensitive or 'commercial in confidence' information in prompts and uploaded documents. 
  • Upload copyright works that you do not have the copyright rights to.
  • Rely on AI tools for correct citations. Incorrect attribution is a moral rights infringement.

AI, copyright and Indigenous Culture

AI has the potential to assist people in many capacities. Despite this, AI raises issues and risks for Copyright, Intellectual Property (IP), and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). 

Do not upload Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property materials (ICIP) into any AI without first obtaining the free and informed consent of cultural rights holders.

Please see the following posts for more insights.