Intellectual property rights Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Yale proposal targets transparency gap in AI development

Researchers at Yale’s Digital Ethics Center have proposed a copyleft-style licensing framework intended to increase transparency around generative AI models trained on open-source software.

The proposal, called the Contextual Copyleft AI License, would adapt principles from free and open-source software licensing to generative AI. Under the model, AI systems trained on open-source code could be treated as derivative works, requiring developers to make key information about model architecture and training data freely available.

The researchers argue that such a framework could give open-source software developers more control over how their code is used in AI development. They also say it could encourage more genuinely open AI models and reduce ‘open washing’, where systems are marketed as open despite keeping important components closed.

The proposal comes amid wider debates over AI transparency, copyright and the role of open-source software in the development of generative AI. The researchers conclude that the approach may be legally feasible under current copyright law, provided that training AI models on open-source software is not treated as fair use.

The study also notes that open generative AI models can create risks because they may be used to generate deceptive or harmful content. The researchers argue that licensing approaches need to work alongside regulatory safeguards, including rules designed to limit manipulative or deceptive uses of AI.

Why does it matter?

The proposal addresses a central transparency gap in AI development: many generative AI systems rely on open-source software but do not disclose enough about how that software is used, which data is involved, or how the resulting models work. If similar licensing approaches gained traction, they could reshape debates over AI openness, developer rights, copyright and accountability. The proposal also shows how open-source governance tools are being reconsidered for AI systems whose risks and dependencies differ from traditional software.

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G7 digital and technology ministers agree on priorities on AI, resilience and online child safety

G7 digital and technology ministers have agreed on priorities covering secure AI, AI openness, digital sector resilience and online safety for minors following a meeting in Paris under France’s presidency. Ministers said digital technologies are central to innovation, productivity and competitiveness, while also creating new challenges for users, businesses and service providers.

The statement reaffirmed support for Data Free Flow with Trust, while highlighting privacy, data protection, intellectual property and security considerations. Ministers also welcomed G7 work on semiconductors, digital standards, quantum technologies, and competition in AI inputs, including computing power, data, energy, and talent.

On AI, ministers said secure, responsible and trustworthy systems are needed to maintain public trust and support adoption. They welcomed the revised Hiroshima AI Process Reporting Framework and said France’s presidency would start discussions with stakeholders, the OECD, and members of the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science to improve comparability between AI risk assessment frameworks.

The G7 also backed a Vision on AI Openness, intended to clarify terminology and support access to open-source and open-weight AI approaches. Ministers said AI openness can help diffuse AI, support research collaboration, and contribute to innovation and economic growth, while clearer language can reduce ambiguity and support trust.

Ministers also supported a G7 SME AI Readiness Tool, developed with the OECD and in cooperation with the G7 Social-Employment working group. The tool is expected to be made available through the G7 AI Training Hub to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises assess their digital and AI readiness, improve AI literacy and lower adoption barriers.

The statement also addresses digital and AI sector resilience, resource efficiency and growing pressure on energy grids and digital infrastructure. On child online safety, ministers supported a Common G7 Set of Principles for a safe and secure digital space for minors, covering digital literacy, AI education, risk mitigation by digital service providers, support for parents and guardians, and protection against online harms.

Why does it matter?

The G7 statement reflects growing international coordination around AI governance, digital resilience and online child safety. By addressing AI risk assessment, openness, SME adoption and digital infrastructure pressures in one framework, ministers are linking technological innovation with trust, security and economic competitiveness.

The agreement also signals that online safety for minors is becoming a core part of digital policy cooperation among major economies, particularly as AI systems and digital platforms play a larger role in children’s online experiences.

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ITU puts AI and creativity in focus at Geneva summit

The International Telecommunication Union will place AI and digital creativity in the spotlight during the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, where artists, musicians, filmmakers, and technologists will discuss how AI is reshaping creative industries.

The summit’s AI Creativity and Culture track will explore questions around ownership, authenticity, copyright, and the growing role of generative AI in artistic production. Sessions will examine how AI tools are affecting media, music, publishing, design, fashion, entertainment, journalism, and creative labour.

High-profile participants include John Legend, who will discuss AI and music with Universal Music Group’s Michael Nash, and will.i.am, who will focus on skills, education, and AI. The programme will also feature AI-driven art installations, robotic musical performances, and screenings during the AI for Good Film Festival.

The festival, now in its second year, has received more than 1,200 contest submissions, with selected films to be shown during the summit. The programme will also include the third edition of Canvas of the Future, ITU’s AI-powered art contest, focused on how AI is shaping the future of education and work.

Organised by ITU with partners across the UN system and co-convened with Switzerland, AI for Good is intended to demonstrate AI solutions for people, planet, and prosperity. The 2026 creative programme reflects growing international attention to how AI is changing cultural production, intellectual property, and the economics of creative work.

Why does it matter?

The programme shows how AI governance debates are expanding beyond safety, productivity, and infrastructure into culture, copyright, ownership, and creative labour. By bringing together artists, entertainment companies, technologists, and UN actors in a single forum, AI for Good is treating AI creativity as both an economic opportunity and a policy challenge.

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European Patent Office expands AI use in patent examination

The European Patent Office (EPO) has presented new AI-related initiatives aimed at supporting quality and efficiency within the European patent system during the latest meeting of the SACEPO Working Party on Quality.

The online gathering brought together 71 representatives from around the world to discuss examination standards, AI integration and long-term improvements to patent procedures. EPO President António Campinos described quality as a central element of the European patent system during the meeting.

The EPO also provided updates on its Quality Action Plan 2026, including examiner training, access to prior-art information, and examination harmonisation efforts. Officials also discussed insights drawn from quality audits and decisions issued by the Boards of Appeal.

Participants discussed the increasing use of AI-supported tools within the patent-granting process. According to the EPO, AI systems are being developed to assist with tasks including pre-search procedures, drafting support, legal queries, and preparation of oral proceedings documentation.

Participants also highlighted the importance of confidentiality, accountability, and human oversight in AI-supported systems.

The EPO stated that final patent examination decisions remain under human responsibility in line with its human-centric AI policy. The meeting additionally examined broader adoption of AI tools across patent and legal sector workflows, quality assurance and secure handling of sensitive intellectual property information.

Why does it matter?

The integration of AI into patent examination highlights how intellectual property systems are adapting to growing technological complexity and increasing volumes of patent applications worldwide. Faster and more consistent examination processes could strengthen innovation ecosystems across Europe, particularly in AI, semiconductors, biotechnology and digital industries.

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Spotify verification badges target AI slop and voice impersonation

Spotify has introduced new verification badges for podcast shows and reinforced its impersonation policies as AI tools make it easier to clone voices, imitate creators and produce misleading audio content.

The new Verified by Spotify badge will appear on selected podcast show pages and in search results. According to Spotify, the badge identifies a show as the official presence of a creator, publisher or brand, helping listeners understand who they are hearing and giving creators a clearer way to establish authenticity on the platform.

Also, Spotify said the badge will begin appearing on select shows and expand over the coming months. Eligibility will depend on factors including sustained listener activity, good standing under Spotify’s platform policies and verified audience authenticity, including safeguards against fraudulent or bot-driven listenership.

Spotify is introducing podcast verification badges and stronger impersonation rules as AI slop expands into audio, voice cloning and creator identity. — Image via Magnific

The company also reaffirmed that its policies prohibit unauthorised impersonation, including through AI voice cloning. Spotify said it will remove podcast shows and content that impersonate another creator or host’s likeness without permission, whether through AI-generated voices or other methods.

However, the move shows how concerns over AI slop are expanding from low-quality visual and written content into audio and identity. In podcasting, the issue is not only whether synthetic content is poor quality, but whether listeners can tell when a voice, host or show is authentic.

Spotify framed the update as part of a broader effort to protect creators and give listeners clearer signals about who they are hearing. The company said podcasting depends on trust between creators and audiences, and that authenticity is becoming more complex as AI lowers the barrier to producing and distributing audio content.

Why does it matter?

AI slop is moving beyond visual clutter and into identity. In podcasting, synthetic voices and impersonation can directly affect the creator’s reputation, listener trust and the credibility of audio platforms. Spotify’s verification badges and impersonation rules show how platforms are beginning to respond not only with content moderation, but with identity signals, authenticity checks and stronger creator protections.

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European Commission launches copyright consultation focused on AI

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence to gather views on whether EU copyright rules should be modernised in response to changes in the digital economy, including challenges linked to generative AI.

The consultation will assess the practical impact and effectiveness of the 2019 Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, which updated EU rules on the use of copyright-protected content across digital platforms and online services. The Commission will examine whether the directive has facilitated the use of protected content in digital environments, improved licensing practices and supported a fairer copyright marketplace.

Rapid technological and market developments are reshaping the creative economy, with the Commission seeking views on how generative AI affects licensing, enforcement and the use of protected works. The review also covers online piracy, particularly of live events, remuneration for performers and producers of recorded music played in the EU, and access to and re-use of works for research purposes.

The call for evidence is open until 25 June and invites contributions from relevant stakeholders on both the review of the 2019 directive and a possible targeted legislative initiative on copyright. The process will be supported by an external study and a stakeholder survey.

Why does it matter?

Generative AI has intensified long-running copyright tensions between technology developers, creators, publishers and platforms. The consultation could influence how the EU approaches licensing, enforcement and the use of protected works in AI systems, while also shaping wider debates on creator remuneration and digital rights in Europe’s creative economy.

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South Korea expands international outreach on AI copyright guidance

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has released an English version of its guide on fair use for training generative AI models. The document outlines how copyrighted materials may be used under existing legal frameworks for AI training purposes.

The guide outlines four legal factors used to assess fair use, including purpose, type of work, amount used, and market impact. According to the guide, AI training may qualify as fair use in some cases where it creates new value and does not negatively affect existing markets.

The guide provides examples of uses that may or may not qualify as fair use under current copyright rules. According to the guide, systems that reproduce substantial copyrighted content without transformation are less likely to qualify as fair use.

The ministry said it plans to discuss the guide internationally, including through cooperation initiatives linked to the World Intellectual Property Organization, as part of broader policy engagement efforts in Seoul, South Korea.

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Singapore cooperation with Japan targets AI in patent examination

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and the Japan Patent Office have announced a new cooperation initiative on the use of AI in patent substantive examination, as patent offices adapt to rapid technological change.

The initiative was announced after a bilateral meeting in Singapore between IPOS Chief Executive Tan Kong Hwee and JPO Commissioner Yasuyuki Kasai. It builds on a Memorandum of Cooperation signed in Tokyo last November.

Under the initiative, IPOS and JPO will launch a bilateral patent examiner exchange programme and hold regular technical exchanges on the use of AI in patent examination. The two offices said the cooperation is intended to strengthen capabilities, share best practices and develop robust processes for high-quality and trusted patent examination.

Tan said AI is reshaping innovation and work processes, making it necessary for IP offices to evolve while maintaining examination quality and trust. Kasai said the cooperation would bring together the experience and expertise of both offices and support innovation in both countries.

The cooperation will also cover patent search and examination quality management, benchmarking of examination practices, IT infrastructure development, operational management and IP policy exchanges. Both offices will also coordinate initiatives to support enterprises, including SMEs, and strengthen trade and IP flows between Singapore and Japan.

IPOS and JPO said the partnership reflects their shared commitment to addressing emerging challenges in the intellectual property landscape and keeping innovation ecosystems trusted, efficient and future-ready.

Why does it matter?

Patent offices are increasingly facing pressure to handle more complex applications while maintaining examination quality, consistency and trust. Cooperation between Singapore and Japan on AI-assisted examination shows how intellectual property authorities are beginning to adapt their own administrative systems to AI, not only to regulate AI-related inventions.

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Swiss media groups launch responsible AI journalism framework

Swiss media organisations have adopted a national code of conduct for the responsible use of AI, aiming to strengthen transparency, copyright protection and public trust in journalism.

The initiative is backed by major Swiss publishing groups, private radio and television organisations, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation and the national news agency Keystone-ATS. It is based on the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law.

The code states that media companies and their employees remain responsible for all published editorial content, whether produced by journalists or with the support of AI systems. It also commits media organisations to train staff in AI use, respect copyright, follow data protection rules and take steps to prevent the spread of false information.

Swiss media groups also agreed to inform the public transparently about their use of AI, including through dedicated information pages, and to introduce binding marking obligations for AI-supported content. The framework is designed as a self-regulatory tool at a time when public concern over AI-generated content remains high.

To support implementation, the code provides for a two-tier reporting and control mechanism. The relevant departments within media companies will first handle questions and complaints. In contrast, an independent AI ombudsperson will act as a second instance for serious or unresolved cases and publish an annual report.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin said AI could strengthen journalism if used responsibly and transparently, while warning that fake news threatens journalistic credibility and social cohesion. Legislative changes needed to implement the Council of Europe convention in Switzerland are expected by the end of 2026.

Why does it matter?

The Swiss code shows how media organisations are moving to set AI governance standards before legal obligations fully take shape. Its significance lies in linking AI-assisted journalism with editorial responsibility, transparency, copyright, data protection and complaint mechanisms, rather than treating AI labelling as the only issue. The model could influence how other media sectors balance innovation with public trust and accountability.

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The Academy introduces rules excluding AI-generated work from Oscar eligibility

The Academy’s Board of Governors has introduced new rules excluding AI-generated performances and screenplays from eligibility for the Oscars. The updated rules require that recognised work be created and performed by humans.

Under the updated framework, only performances credited in a film’s legal billing and demonstrably carried out by individuals with their consent will qualify for an Oscar. Screenplays must also be authored by humans, with the academy reserving the right to request further disclosure on the use of AI in production.

The update comes as AI technologies are increasingly used in filmmaking, including digital recreations of actors and synthetic performers. Industry tensions around AI have grown in recent years, including during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes.

The move is described as part of efforts within the creative sector to preserve human authorship and artistic control as generative AI tools expand across media production.

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