But Fear Not, Tech is Fighting Back
by: Paul Gerbino
A new breed of tech company is rising to protect writers and publishers from AI-powered copyright infringement in the age of generative AI.
The internet, once hailed as the savior of media, has morphed into a double-edged sword. Just as writers and publishers began to grapple with the digital disruption of the past two decades, a new threat emerged from the silicon valleys of the world: artificial intelligence. These digital wordsmiths, capable of churning out prose faster than a team of caffeine-fueled screenwriters on a movie, are poised to disrupt the media landscape like never before. But this time, a new breed of tech crusader is riding to the rescue, armed with algorithms and blockchain, ready to defend your precious words from the insatiable appetite of Generative AI.
Generative AI, with its uncanny ability to spin tales, compose sonnets, and even mimic the styles of renowned authors, learns its craft by devouring mountains of digital text. And where does it find this feast? Why, on the very internet that was supposed to be your salvation! The problem, dear reader, is that these AI behemoths aren’t exactly sticklers for copyright law. They gobble up articles, blog posts, even the occasional tweet, with the indiscriminate appetite of a starving termite, often without permission or attribution. And if you think your paywall protects your content, think again. The New York Times is suing Perplexity AI for getting around their paywall.
All this poses an existential threat to media companies, already reeling from years of declining revenues and shrinking newsrooms. Imagine, if you will, a world where news articles, meticulously researched and crafted, are regurgitated and repurposed by AI without a penny in royalties. It’s a dystopian vision straight out of a Neal Stephenson novel, where human creativity is rendered worthless by machines, and the very notion of authorship is reduced to lines of code. We already have examples of the B2B publishers competing with a B2B newsletter company, without journalists, building an audience of over one million subscriptions.
A New Hope Emerges from the Digital Fray
But hold on! Before we succumb to despair, let’s consider the cavalry arriving on the horizon. A new generation of tech companies is emerging, offering ingenious solutions to protect intellectual property in this brave new world. They are building tools to track how AI uses your content, ensuring you get paid when your words are borrowed (or stolen). They are streamlining the licensing process, making it easier for AI developers to play by the rules. And they’re leveraging the power of blockchain, that immutable ledger in the sky, to create an unbreakable chain of ownership for every sentence, every paragraph, every article. (A shout-out to Darrell Gunter and his view on Blockchain.)
These companies understand the urgency of the situation. Traditional copyright laws and licensing models are struggling to keep pace with the speed and complexity of AI-driven content generation. Manually tracking usage and enforcing copyright across countless AI models and applications is like trying to catch a monkey among hundreds.
Furthermore, existing licensing models are often cumbersome and inefficient, hindering the seamless flow of content from creators to AI developers.
Meet the Guardians of the Written Word
Companies like ProRata.ai are pioneering micropayment systems that ensure writers get compensated every time their work is used by an AI. TollBit is building a blockchain-based registry to prove ownership and automate licensing agreements. Human Native AI is developing AI models with a conscience, trained to respect intellectual property rights. And Rights Chain Ltd. is using blockchain to create a transparent and secure record of content usage, ensuring that writers get their due.
Let’s take a closer look at these digital knights errant:
- Human Native AI, https://www.humannative.ai: Human Native AI is another platform where you can license your content to AI developers. They’re big on ethical AI, meaning fair pay and control for creators. Listing your content here connects you with AI developers who are actively looking for quality training data and are willing to pay. They also help you get your content ready for AI use.
- ProRata.ai, https://www.prorata.ai: ProRata.ai is all about fair credit and compensation for creators in the age of AI. They use technology to analyze AI outputs (text, images, etc.) and pinpoint the original sources that contributed to them. This is huge for publishers because it proves how your content is used by AI, even if it’s mixed with other content. This proof strengthens your negotiating power, giving you hard evidence to back up your claims for payment..
- Rights Chain Ltd., https://www.rightschain.net: Rights Chain Ltd. is your one-stop shop for managing and protecting your intellectual property. They help you register and track your copyrighted content, which is key when negotiating with AI companies. This proof of ownership shows the value of your work and helps you get fair payment. Rights Chain uses blockchain technology which may make their records tamper-proof and provides an extra layer of security and verifiability when proving ownership and usage of your content..
- ScalePost.ai, https://www.scalepost.ai/: ScalePost.ai is another platform connecting publishers with AI companies. They’re all about secure data access, making money from your content, and giving you detailed analytics. By using ScalePost.ai, you tap into a market of AI companies, with tools to manage licenses and see exactly how your content is used. This transparency is a big help when negotiating fair payment.
- TollBit, https://tollbit.com: Think of TollBit as a bridge between publishers and AI developers. You can list your content on their platform and set your own prices for AI usage. This puts you in the driver’s seat for how AI accesses and pays for your work. TollBit also helps with tracking AI traffic and managing licenses, making the whole payment process smoother.
Overcoming the Resistance to Change
But here’s the rub: Many media companies, still shell-shocked from the initial digital revolution, are either unaware of the theft of their content, or caught up in the tyranny of the urgent and do not have time to care. If they are aware and care, they are often hesitant to embrace these new technologies. Some are just simply unaware of the solutions available. Others have been bitten by the high cost of technology and are intimidated by the complexity of integrating new systems into their existing workflows. And let’s face it, change is scary, especially when it comes to established revenue models, ingrained practices and technology.
There’s also the fear of losing control. In this age of algorithms and automation, it’s easy to feel like we’re ceding power to the machines. But the truth is, these technologies can empower us, giving you the tools to protect your work and thrive in the AI era. Instead of fearing the rise of the machines, we need to embrace the potential for collaboration between humans and AI.
Embracing Collaboration, Forging a New Future
The future of media depends on your willingness to adapt and embrace innovation. You must overcome your fears and embrace the tools that can help you safeguard your creativity. This also means recognizing the potential for collaboration between media and tech. Rather than viewing AI as a threat, media companies can leverage these tools to work with AI, using it to enhance their creative output and reach new audiences. Imagine AI helping journalists analyze vast datasets, identify trends, and generate story ideas, while human writers focus on crafting compelling narratives and adding their unique perspectives. This collaborative approach could unlock new levels of productivity and innovation in the media industry.
Epilogue
After writing this story, I wanted to ask AI to find any inaccuracies, errors or incorrect analysis in what I wrote. For the sake of balance and accuracy, here is what Google Gemini said about my analysis: (I have added my commentary to Gemini’s analysis.)
Gemini
This is a strong piece that captures the concerns of writers and publishers in the age of AI while highlighting potential solutions.
(I could not agree more.)
However, there are a few areas where it could benefit from some improvements:
1. Oversimplification of AI “Learning”
While the “devouring” metaphor is effective, it’s crucial to emphasize that AI doesn’t simply copy content. It analyzes patterns and relationships in data to generate new text. This distinction is important for understanding the nuances of AI-generated content and its potential for originality.
(Talk about genAI rationalizing its theft of content owners’ content.)
2. “Existential Threat” – Needs More Nuance
While AI-generated content presents challenges, calling it an “existential threat” might be hyperbolic. AI can also be a powerful tool for content creation, research, and analysis, potentially boosting efficiency. The focus should be on adaptation and coexistence, not just portraying AI as a destructive force.
(Talk about genAI saying, “we are not so bad. We can be friends.”.)
3. Uncritical Promotion of Tech Solutions
The story heavily promotes specific companies and their solutions. While these companies may offer valuable services, a more critical perspective is needed. Are these solutions scalable and affordable for all publishers? What are the potential downsides? A more balanced analysis would consider these questions.
(I can be accused of bias here because of my desire to see someone be successful defending content owners.)
4. Blockchain as a Panacea
While blockchain has potential applications in copyright protection, it’s not a cure-all. Issues like scalability, energy consumption, and complexity need to be addressed. Blockchain alone can’t solve the ethical and legal complexities surrounding AI and copyright.
(You can blame Darrell Gunter for my emphasis on Blockchain. He is a true advocate for this technology.)
5. Overlooking Fair Use
The story focuses heavily on copyright infringement but doesn’t mention fair use. AI models may use copyrighted material for purposes like research or parody, potentially falling under fair use exceptions. This is an important aspect of the copyright debate.
(The whole issue with Fair Use is that it is a defense for when you are accused of copyright infringement, Fair Use is not a right.)
6. Lack of Diverse Perspectives
The story primarily focuses on writers and publishers. Including perspectives from AI developers, legal experts, and ethicists would provide a more comprehensive view of the issue.
(This is from an AI world that tells young developers to steal the content, and that all web content is freeware.)
7. Limited Discussion of Ethical Implications
While the story briefly mentions data privacy, it could delve deeper into the ethical implications of AI-generated content. Issues like bias in AI models, the potential for misinformation, and the impact on human creativity deserve more attention.
(The last industry that should be crying ethics is genAI and there Large Language Models (LLM))
Specific points:
- “The New York Times is suing Perplexity AI for getting around their paywall.” While this is true, it’s important to clarify that the lawsuit is not just about bypassing paywalls, but also about using the Times’ content to train and improve Perplexity’s AI model without permission.
(Thank you Gemini for reminding me of the other issues with AI and publishers.)
- “We already have examples of the B2B publishers competing with a B2B newsletter company, without journalists, building an audience of over one million subscriptions.” This statement needs more context. Which companies are being referred to? What are the implications of this competition? How does it relate to AI and copyright?
(Gemini, thank you for another idea for an article.)
Paul Gerbino, President of Creative Licensing International, brings decades of experience in content strategy, licensing, and product development to his analysis of the publishing industry. He advises B2B, B2C, STM, and academic publishers on navigating the complexities of digital media, drawing on his unique perspective of guiding publishers in developing innovative digital products and advertising programs. Paul is passionate about helping publishers thrive in the digital age.
About Paul Gerbino
Paul Gerbino is the President of Creative Licensing International. He is an expert in digital, content strategy, licensing, product development, advertising, and copyright protections. His expertise is noted with an exemplary track record of transforming low-performing projects into highly profitable revenue streams. Evident in creating and launching innovative digital media products and advertising programs for B2B, B2C, STM, and academic publishers. Paul is passionate about helping publishers improve their performance, productivity, and profitability in the evolving digital landscape.
