Artificial intelligence is transforming copyright law, raising new questions about what it means to be an “author” and how intellectual property protections apply in a world where machines can generate creative works. This CLE course examines the constitutional and statutory foundations of copyright, the human authorship requirement, and how courts have addressed works that lack traditional human creators. Key case studies—including Naruto v. Slater and Thaler v. Perlmutter—will illustrate how judges are navigating the boundaries of non-human authorship and the potential need for legislative solutions. The course also explores one of the most pressing issues in today’s copyright landscape: the use of protected works to train generative AI systems. Attendees will learn how courts are handling infringement claims in digital media, with analysis of cases such as Capitol Records v. ReDigi, Bartz v. Anthropic, and Kadrey v. Meta. The program concludes with a forward-looking discussion of licensing models for AI, the possibility of sentient AI authorship, and the future of intellectual property rights in the age of machine creativity.

*This course qualifies as a Transitional course and can be taken by both Experienced and Newly Admitted attorneys in NY.