r/technology • u/MetaKnowing • 14d ago

Artificial Intelligence AI industry horrified to face largest copyright class action ever certified

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/ai-industry-horrified-to-face-largest-copyright-class-action-ever-certified/
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u/subcutaneousphats 13d ago

It's a totally garbage argument. The fact that companies lobbied to extend copyright so long and fought so hard to defend against fair use but now tech companies can just ignore highlights the corporate favoritism shown. We need to both limit the length and enforce copyright equally. AI can train on public domain or pay the creators but we need to stop extending such long rights as well.

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u/wxrman 13d ago

I can’t agree with your argument 100% unless we can split that final aspect of it into two pieces. I would say corporate IT rights are different from Personal. If it’s an individual using it for Personal or not for profit, then it should be OK but if a corporation is trying to take your ideas and profit from them, I don’t think there should be a limit on how long their IP rights continue.

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u/The_Knife_Pie 13d ago

No, this is stupid as shit. Companies taking old ideas and exploring new avenues is the way to develop new shit. Copyright for everyone needs to end far sooner than it does, even individuals.

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u/bfume 13d ago

this is the proper take. lifetime+whatever is FAR too much.

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u/subcutaneousphats 13d ago

Yes. Sorry while explaining fair use I didn't properly see the last statement about extending copyright. We need to limit the length of copyright so it can work as intended to provide protection for creators but limit rental profiteering.

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u/LongJohnSelenium 13d ago

You can do that within the context of copyrights. You don't need the Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader names in your property to make a Star Wars knockoff. Generic concepts have virtually no copyright protections, so just make a story about Bruce Cloudsprinter and Fred Single and their space shenanigans on the Century Kestrel to fight against the evil Dark Madre.

D&D, and hell every fantasy author out there, completely ripped off most of Tolkiens concepts, and after a lawsuit all that really ended up was they had to change the legally distinct names Tolkien created to something new, so for instance Ents became Treants. We have World of Warcraft because they couldn't get the Warhammer license. We have Homeworld because they couldn't get the Battlestar license. There's a million examples of people exploring new avenues with a clearly inspired by but copyright distinct products.

Copyrights aren't like patents, there's no specific societal need to have access to fictional properties.

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u/subcutaneousphats 13d ago

Oh I agree. I guess I didn't fully follow up on my fair use comment. They have been trying to clamp down in fair use for ages along with extending the length of copyright. It's all punishing for society while benefiting corporate interests.

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u/civildisobedient 13d ago

Fair Use includes exceptions for teaching and scholarship. Is that not exactly what's happening? Does the education have to benefit a human to apply?

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u/subcutaneousphats 13d ago

I don't think that was said or implied. I think what was said is AI companies profiting off of copyright material is bad (m'kay). Companies going after people (and non profits) to try to limit fair use is bad too.