Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright Law: Rethinking Intellectual Property Protection in the Digital Era

Abstract

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has fundamentally transformed the creation, dissemination, and commercialization of creative works, posing unprecedented challenges to traditional copyright law. Generative AI systems are capable of producing text, images, music, software code, and audiovisual content that closely resemble human-authored works, thereby raising complex legal questions concerning authorship, ownership, originality, infringement, and liability. This article examines the implications of generative AI for copyright protection through a normative juridical approach employing doctrinal and comparative legal analysis. The study evaluates existing copyright principles alongside emerging regulatory frameworks, including international intellectual property standards and recent legislative developments concerning artificial intelligence. The findings indicate that conventional copyright doctrines, which are predominantly based on human creativity and identifiable authorship, are increasingly inadequate for addressing AI-generated content and algorithm-assisted creativity. Furthermore, the widespread use of copyrighted works for training generative AI models raises unresolved issues relating to fair use, licensing, transparency, and the rights of creators. This study argues that future copyright governance should move beyond a purely author-centric paradigm toward a balanced, innovation-oriented framework integrating human creativity, technological development, and public interest. It proposes a Human-Centered AI Copyright Framework that incorporates transparency, accountability, licensing mechanisms, fair remuneration, and human authorship principles to ensure sustainable intellectual property protection while fostering responsible AI innovation in the digital era.