Why Communicators Must Understand the AI-Copyright Debate Now
As communicators rush to leverage generative AI for content creation, media monitoring, and productivity, there’s a growing legal and ethical storm brewing beneath the surface—one that could reshape the future of content ownership. A new post by Graham Lovelace titled “Let’s Play AI-Copyright Deniers’ Bingo” on his Substack brilliantly satirizes the most common arguments made by those dismissing copyright concerns in the training of AI models. It should be required reading for anyone in communications, marketing, or PR who touches AI tools.
The bingo card—featuring statements like “AI models don’t copy anything,” “All content on the open web is freeware,” and “Creators over-estimate the value of their works”—highlights the dangerously simplistic logic often used to justify using copyrighted content without permission. For communicators, this isn’t a fringe legal debate. It’s a reputational, legal, and operational risk with serious implications for how your brand produces and protects creative assets.
As Lovelace rightly points out, these arguments not only ignore the foundational principles of intellectual property law, they also threaten to undermine the very creators whose work gives brands their storytelling power. Brands that rely on AI-generated content may unknowingly build campaigns on ethically and legally questionable ground—unless communications leaders proactively engage with this issue.
Key Takeaways for Communicators
Know what’s in your tools. Ask your vendors where their training data comes from. Ignorance is not a defense.
Respect copyright as a trust-builder. Brands that honor creator rights win long-term loyalty and avoid backlash.
Stay informed. The copyright landscape is shifting fast. Subscribe to voices like Lovelace’s to keep ahead of legal and public opinion curves.
Advocate internally. Help your legal, tech, and content teams align around transparent, ethical AI use.
In a world where synthetic media is becoming the norm, understanding what’s real—and who owns it—has never been more critical. Communicators must lead the charge in navigating these challenges with clarity, ethics, and strategic foresight.
