An introduction to ownership of intellectual property created by AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not a new concept - with US academics creating computer programs which learned basic draughts strategies and solving word problems in the 1950s and 60s. However, over the last 10 years, we have seen a large jump in the development and funding of AI technology with computers now able to create images and inventions with minimal human input.

This, in turn, has created issues regarding the ownership of such creations, particularly where there has been no human input.

The question is therefore asked: if a piece of AI creates something, who owns it?

In our articles, we attempt to answer this question about the various types of intellectual property as recognised under UK law.