House Judiciary Subcommittee to Explore AI and Copyright Law Interoperability in Upcoming Hearing

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet has scheduled a hearing titled "Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property: Part I — Interoperability of AI and Copyright Law" for Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. This hearing aims to scrutinize the complex relationship between generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and existing copyright frameworks.

Key topics slated for discussion include the utilization of copyright-protected materials in training generative AI models, the copyright status of works produced with AI assistance, and the broader economic effects of generative AI on creators and the creative industries.

The hearing will feature testimony from a diverse panel of experts and stakeholders. Sy Damle, Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP and former General Counsel of the U.S. Copyright Office, will provide insights grounded in his extensive legal experience.

From the academic and technical perspective, Chris Callison-Burch, Associate Professor of Computer and Information Science at the University of Pennsylvania and Visiting Research Scientist at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, will contribute his expertise on AI technologies.

The creative community will be represented by Ashley Irwin, President of the Society of Composers and Lyricists, an Emmy Award-winning music director, conductor, composer, arranger, and producer. Additionally, Dan Navarro, a Grammy-nominated songwriter, singer, recording artist, and voice actor, will share his perspective on AI’s impact on music and creative expression.

Jeffrey Sedlik, President and CEO of the PLUS Coalition, a member of the Joint Committee on Ethics in AI, and a professional photographer, will also testify, bringing a viewpoint from the visual arts and ethical considerations in AI deployment.

This hearing marks a significant step in legislative oversight as policymakers seek to understand and potentially adapt copyright law to the evolving capabilities and challenges posed by generative AI technologies. It reflects growing concerns about how AI-generated content intersects with traditional intellectual property rights and the livelihoods of human creators.

Stakeholders and observers anticipate that the testimonies and discussions will inform future legislative and regulatory approaches to balancing innovation in AI with the protection of creative works and the interests of rights holders.