Copyright law and machine learning for AI: Where are we and where are we going?

Event summary

October 26, 2021

10:00 a.m. ET - 2:00 p.m. ET

Library of Congress

Montpelier Room

101 Independence Avenue SE

Washington, DC 20540

Add to Calendar2021-10-26 10:00:002021-10-26 10:00:00Copyright law and machine learning for AI: Where are we and where are we going? Register now to hear experts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the U.S. Copyright Office lead discussions on ground-breaking policy issues related to copyright law and artificial intelligence (AI). During the course of this free, half-day program, three sessions will examine: machine learning in practice how existing copyright laws apply to the training of AI what the future may hold in this fast-moving policy space Whether you are a copyright attorney, a policymaker, or anyone else interested in how AI is affecting rights holders, you do not want to miss this public program. Register today Agenda (All times in ET) Agenda subject to change 10–10:05 a.m. Welcome and opening remarks Mary Critharis, Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs, USPTO Maria Strong, Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs Part I: The present 10:05–11:05 a.m. Machine learning in practice After a brief introduction to machine learning as a distinct subfield of AI, speakers will share examples of creators, technology companies, and researchers using machine learning. Through these examples, the panelists will describe and discuss the compilation of a learning database, intermediate copying in the learning process, and the output of machine learning. The presentations will serve as the factual background for the second panel discussion. Following 50 minutes of moderated discussion, there will be a 10-minute Q&A period. Moderator: Chris Weston, Senior Counsel, U.S. Copyright Office Panelists: Dr. Aude Oliva, MIT director, MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab Greg Brockman, CTO, OpenAI Obvious, Obvious art collective 11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. How existing copyright regimes address issues relating to machine learning This panel will explore how the U.S. and other copyright regimes address issues relating to machine learning, including what rights are implicated and what exceptions may apply. It will also address approaches to protection of data that does not qualify for copyright protection, as well as existing practices with respect to licensing of content used in machine learning. Following 50 minutes of moderated discussion, there will be a 10-minute Q&A period. Moderator: Andrew Foglia, Senior Counsel, U.S. Copyright Office Panelists: Daniel Gervais, Milton R. Underwood Chair in Law, Vanderbilt University Catherine Zaller Rowland, Vice-President and General Counsel, Copyright Clearance Center Tim Hwang, Research Fellow, Center for Security and Emerging Technology Ben Sobel, Law Clerk, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit 12:15–1:15 p.m. Break Part II: The future 1:15–2:15 p.m. What’s next? This panel will evaluate the adequacy of the existing legal regimes to achieve the appropriate balance in regulating issues involved in the input and use of third-party content in machine learning. It will consider alternative solutions, including expanded exceptions and limitations, collective licensing and/or remuneration rights, and sui generis data protection. Following 50 minutes of moderated discussion, there will be a 10-minute Q&A period. Moderator: Molly Stech, Attorney Advisor, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Panelists: Peter S. Menell, Koret Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law Mary Rasenberger, CEO, Authors Guild Dave Green, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Chris Mohr, Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, SIIA Note: Statements made by non-federal employees at this event do not reflect the position of the U.S. government. Additional information Important note: The organizers of this program plan to present it in a hybrid format, both live and online, with all sessions on Zoom. The on-site option will depend on pandemic-related conditions and public access to the Library of Congress at the time of the event, and could be subject to cancellation on short notice should conditions change. Whether planning to attend online via Zoom or in-person, all attendees must register in advance. For more information, visit the registration page or contact Andrew Foglia at the U.S. Copyright Office. Library of Congress Montpelier Room 101 Independence Avenue SE Washington, DC 20540 United States Library of Congress Montpelier Room 101 Independence Avenue SE Washington, DC 20540 United States Library of CongressAmerica/New_Yorkpublic

Register now to hear experts from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the U.S. Copyright Office lead discussions on ground-breaking policy issues related to copyright law and artificial intelligence (AI). During the course of this free, half-day program, three sessions will examine:

machine learning in practice
how existing copyright laws apply to the training of AI
what the future may hold in this fast-moving policy space

Whether you are a copyright attorney, a policymaker, or anyone else interested in how AI is affecting rights holders, you do not want to miss this public program.

Agenda

(All times in ET)

Agenda subject to change

10–10:05 a.m.	Welcome and opening remarks Mary Critharis, Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs, USPTO Maria Strong, Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs
	Part I: The present
10:05–11:05 a.m.	Machine learning in practice After a brief introduction to machine learning as a distinct subfield of AI, speakers will share examples of creators, technology companies, and researchers using machine learning. Through these examples, the panelists will describe and discuss the compilation of a learning database, intermediate copying in the learning process, and the output of machine learning. The presentations will serve as the factual background for the second panel discussion. Following 50 minutes of moderated discussion, there will be a 10-minute Q&A period. Moderator: Chris Weston, Senior Counsel, U.S. Copyright Office Panelists: Dr. Aude Oliva, MIT director, MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab Greg Brockman, CTO, OpenAI Obvious, Obvious art collective
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m.	How existing copyright regimes address issues relating to machine learning This panel will explore how the U.S. and other copyright regimes address issues relating to machine learning, including what rights are implicated and what exceptions may apply. It will also address approaches to protection of data that does not qualify for copyright protection, as well as existing practices with respect to licensing of content used in machine learning. Following 50 minutes of moderated discussion, there will be a 10-minute Q&A period. Moderator: Andrew Foglia, Senior Counsel, U.S. Copyright Office Panelists: Daniel Gervais, Milton R. Underwood Chair in Law, Vanderbilt University Catherine Zaller Rowland, Vice-President and General Counsel, Copyright Clearance Center Tim Hwang, Research Fellow, Center for Security and Emerging Technology Ben Sobel, Law Clerk, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
12:15–1:15 p.m.	Break
	Part II: The future
1:15–2:15 p.m.	What’s next? This panel will evaluate the adequacy of the existing legal regimes to achieve the appropriate balance in regulating issues involved in the input and use of third-party content in machine learning. It will consider alternative solutions, including expanded exceptions and limitations, collective licensing and/or remuneration rights, and sui generis data protection. Following 50 minutes of moderated discussion, there will be a 10-minute Q&A period. Moderator: Molly Stech, Attorney Advisor, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Panelists: Peter S. Menell, Koret Professor of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law Mary Rasenberger, CEO, Authors Guild Dave Green, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft Chris Mohr, Senior Vice-President and General Counsel, SIIA

Note: Statements made by non-federal employees at this event do not reflect the position of the U.S. government.

Additional information

Important note: The organizers of this program plan to present it in a hybrid format, both live and online, with all sessions on Zoom. The on-site option will depend on pandemic-related conditions and public access to the Library of Congress at the time of the event, and could be subject to cancellation on short notice should conditions change. Whether planning to attend online via Zoom or in-person, all attendees must register in advance.

For more information, visit the registration page or contact Andrew Foglia at the U.S. Copyright Office.

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Copyright law and machine learning for AI: Where are we and where are we going?

Agenda