Skip to content

Celebrate 25 Years of Creative Commons! As we mark a quarter-century of empowering creators and keeping knowledge free, your support helps us build the next 25 years of the global commons. Help us kick off our end-of-year giving campaign early! Donate today!

Creative Commons 301: AI, Copyright, and the Commons

Event Details

As artificial intelligence transforms how knowledge is created, shared, and reused, leaders and members of the open movement are at a crossroad that will define the future of access to knowledge and shared creativity.

Many see two options:

  1. A free-for-all, where anything shared openly is fair game for AI training
  2. Closing up, where content is locked away to keep it out of AI systems

Both put the commons at risk: a free-for-all leaves creators without agency over how their work is used, and closing up takes agency from everyone else, cutting off what open sharing was meant to serve.

The application of copyright law to AI training is complex. Around the world, there are exceptions and limitations to copyright that give latitude to AI training, but laws vary significantly by jurisdiction. Since CC licenses are copyright licenses, it follows that the application of CC licenses to AI training is similarly complicated.

Hear the latest thoughts about the relationship between AI, copyright, and the existing CC licenses and legal tools. Then, learn about the latest developments in our CC Signals project: a framework to give people more ways to express when and how their data is used in AI systems. The goal is to sustain open sharing by supporting meaningful choice and reciprocity, so those who benefit from shared knowledge also contribute to the commons. We plan to allow time for discussion and Q&A.

Meet the speakers

  • Shanna Hollich

    Senior Manager, Learning and Training

    As our Senior Manager, Learning and Training, Shanna supports all of CC’s programs and projects by identifying and developing professional development and learning opportunities that are relevant to CC’s mission, including (but not limited to) the CC Certificates. Prior to joining CC, Shanna worked for 15 years as a librarian…

Get the latest CC news, updates, events, resources, and more right to your inbox!

Sign up for CC’s Newsletter