20. AI and Copyright: Navigating Creative Technology's Legal Challenges

In this final episode of the first season, Liesl Rowe, Senior Digital Library Advisor and copyright expert at Leeds Beckett University, demystifies one of the most complex aspects of AI adoption: copyright law. As AI tools become increasingly accessible, understanding the legal landscape becomes crucial for educators, students, and creators alike.Liesl explores the fundamental challenge that's often overlooked in AI discussions: the difference between AI inputs and outputs, and why the former poses far greater copyright risks. While many institutions focus on citing AI-generated content, the real legal minefield lies in what we feed into these systems. She explains how feeding copyrighted material into AI models without permission essentially grants unauthorised access to large language models - a practice that's putting creators and institutions at risk.The conversation covers practical institutional responses, from Leeds Beckett's ethics procedure requiring AI use declaration to Leeds University's traffic light system (red: no AI, amber: optional, green: encouraged). Liesl discusses how the UK government's policy u-turn on text and data mining exemptions has left creators scrambling to protect their work, leading to widespread "do not input" declarations from publishers.We explore the ethical dimensions of AI training data, including the uncomfortable reality that many models are built on "shadow libraries" of illegally downloaded content, and the bias challenges created by predominantly anglophone training data. Liesl passionately argues for inclusive AI development, noting how criticism of AI often overlooks who benefits most: non-native English speakers using translation tools, and neurodiverse individuals who find AI invaluable for tasks like email composition and content summarisation.The episode tackles authorship in the age of AI, referencing the famous "selfie monkey" case that established human-only copyright law, while noting India's recent departure from this standard. Liesl concludes with optimism, highlighting emerging research from Swansea University showing AI's genuine strengths in specific analysis and summarisation, advocating for more intentional, tool-appropriate AI deployment.A must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of creativity, technology, and law in education and beyond.AI Ethics NowExploring the ethical dilemmas of AI in Higher Education and beyond.A University of Warwick IATL PodcastThis podcast series was developed by Dr Tom Ritchie and Dr Jennie Mills, the module leads of the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IATL module ⁠"The AI Revolution: Ethics, Technology, and Society"⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ at the University of Warwick. The AI Revolution module explores the history, current state, and potential futures of artificial intelligence, examining its profound impact on society, individuals, and the very definition of 'humanness.'This podcast was initially designed to provide a deeper dive into the key themes explored each week in class. We want to share the discussions we have had to help offer a broader, interdisciplinary perspective on the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence to a wider audience.Join each fortnight for new critical conversations on AI Ethics with local, national, and international experts.We will discuss:- Ethical Dimensions of AI: Fairness, bias, transparency, and accountability.- Societal Implications: How AI is transforming industries, economies, and our understanding of humanity.- The Future of AI: Potential benefits, risks, and shaping a future where AI serves humanity.If you want to join the podcast as a guest, contact [email protected].