US Copyright Office clarifies that AI-generated art needs human authorship for copyright protection

The U.S. Copyright Office has issued new guidance stating that AI-generated works must have "human authorship" to be eligible for copyright protection. This marks a shift in how such content is evaluated under U.S. law. The guidance emphasizes that the required level of creativity for authorship is low. It also indicates that copyrightability will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, meaning human contributions to AI outputs must be demonstrated. While the Office believes existing laws can address AI-related issues, it acknowledges ongoing legal challenges. The document does not address concerns about AI models using copyrighted material from artists, leaving that topic for future discussions.