Copyright Needs Evolution: How Modern Tools Can Better Serve Creators
The Copyright Dilemma in the Digital Age
Copyright law faces a crisis of relevance. While it continues to provide important protections for creators, the system increasingly struggles to address the realities of digital creation, AI-assisted art, and global distribution networks.
The U.S. Copyright Office’s latest AI report highlights this tension perfectly. The Office confirms that AI-generated works alone cannot be copyrighted, but works with sufficient human creative input can qualify—leaving creators in legal limbo about what constitutes “enough” human contribution.
This uncertainty isn’t just bureaucratic red tape. It reflects a deeper problem: copyright law, designed for physical publishing in the 18th century, is struggling to adapt to 21st-century creative realities.
What Copyright Gets Right (And Wrong)
The Successes
Copyright has genuinely protected countless creators over the centuries:
- Automatic Protection: Unlike patents or trademarks, copyright protection begins the moment you create original work
- Legal Recourse: It provides a framework for creators to challenge unauthorized use
- International Framework: Treaties like the Berne Convention create global protections
- Duration: Long protection periods ensure creators and their heirs can benefit from their work
The Growing Problems
However, several fundamental issues limit copyright’s effectiveness in the modern era:
Enforcement Inequality: While major studios and labels can afford aggressive legal action, independent creators often cannot. A 2019 study by the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator found that 89% of copyright infringement cases involve parties with legal budgets exceeding $100,000.
Speed vs. Bureaucracy: Digital content spreads globally in minutes, while copyright registration and enforcement can take months or years. By the time legal action succeeds, the commercial damage is often done.
Platform Power: Major platforms like YouTube have created their own copyright systems (Content ID) that often favor large rights holders over individual creators, leading to false claims and automated takedowns.
AI and Authorship Confusion: Current law struggles to address collaborative human-AI creation, leaving creators uncertain about their rights when using modern tools.
Learning from History: Photography’s Legal Journey
The current AI art debate mirrors photography’s 19th-century legal battles. When photography emerged, traditional artists and courts questioned whether mechanical reproduction could constitute “art” deserving copyright protection.
In the landmark 1884 case Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony, the Supreme Court ruled that photographs could receive copyright protection—but only when the photographer demonstrated sufficient creative control over composition, lighting, and staging.
This precedent established a principle still relevant today: the tool doesn’t determine creativity; the artist’s choices do. Whether using a camera, computer, or AI system, what matters is the creative decisions behind the work.
A Hybrid Approach: Evolution, Not Revolution
Rather than abandoning copyright entirely, creators need a multi-layered protection strategy that combines traditional legal frameworks with emerging technologies.
Layer 1: Enhanced Copyright Registration
Digital-First Registration: Copyright offices should offer instant digital registration with blockchain-based timestamping, providing immediate proof of creation and ownership.
AI Creation Guidelines: Clear standards for human authorship in AI-assisted works, similar to photography’s creative control requirements.
Example: The European Union’s proposed AI Act includes provisions for labeling AI-generated content while protecting human creative contributions.
Layer 2: Blockchain-Based Ownership Tracking
Immutable Records: Blockchain can provide tamper-proof creation timestamps and ownership chains without replacing copyright law.
Smart Licensing: Automated licensing agreements that execute payments when content is used, reducing friction for legitimate users while ensuring creator compensation.
Real-World Success: Musicians like Imogen Heap and companies like Kodak have successfully used blockchain to track royalties and licensing, showing the technology’s practical potential.
Layer 3: Platform-Level Protection
Creator-Friendly Policies: Platforms should implement “creator-first” policies that assume good faith from individual artists while requiring higher evidence standards for corporate claims.
Revenue Sharing: Instead of just removing infringing content, platforms could implement automatic revenue-sharing systems that compensate creators when their work generates income.
Layer 4: Direct Creator Economy Tools
Subscription and Community Models: Platforms like Patreon, Substack, and Ghost enable direct creator-audience relationships that reduce dependence on copyright enforcement.
NFTs and Digital Collectibles: While speculative bubbles have cooled, the underlying technology provides new ways for creators to monetize unique digital works.
Micropayments: Systems like Brave Browser’s Basic Attention Token show how micro-transactions can compensate creators for content consumption.
Addressing the Challenges
Technical Barriers
Not every creator can navigate blockchain technology or smart contracts. Any new system must be accessible through user-friendly interfaces that hide technical complexity.
Solution: Just as creators don’t need to understand HTTP protocols to use social media, blockchain-based tools can operate behind intuitive interfaces.
Legal Recognition
Blockchain records need broader legal recognition to be truly effective.
Progress: Countries like Estonia, Switzerland, and several U.S. states have begun recognizing blockchain records in legal proceedings. The trend suggests growing acceptance.
International Coordination
Copyright’s strength lies in international treaties. New systems need similar global coordination.
Opportunity: The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has begun exploring blockchain applications for IP protection, suggesting potential for international frameworks.
A Practical Roadmap for Creators
Short Term (1-2 years)
- Use existing copyright registration alongside blockchain timestamping services like Bernstein Technologies or IPwe
- Establish clear terms of use for AI tools in your creative process
- Build direct audience relationships through subscription platforms
Medium Term (3-5 years)
- Advocate for copyright law updates that address AI-assisted creation
- Experiment with smart contract licensing as the technology matures
- Support platforms that prioritize creator rights over corporate interests
Long Term (5+ years)
- Participate in developing new international frameworks for digital creativity
- Help shape standards for AI authorship and creative collaboration
- Build sustainable creator economies that don’t depend solely on copyright enforcement
The Path Forward
Copyright isn’t dead, but it needs significant evolution to serve modern creators effectively. The solution isn’t to abandon legal protections, but to enhance them with new technologies and business models.
The most successful creators of the next decade will likely be those who combine traditional copyright protections with blockchain verification, direct audience relationships, and smart licensing systems. They’ll use every available tool—legal, technological, and commercial—to control and monetize their work.
The question isn’t whether copyright will survive the digital age, but how quickly it can adapt to serve creators in an AI-powered, globally connected world.
What’s Your Strategy?
As creators, we have more tools available than ever before. The challenge is learning to use them strategically rather than relying on any single approach.
How are you adapting your creative practice and business model to thrive in this evolving landscape?
Connect with the conversation: Find me on X and most social media sites: @vlaneART