The recent feature of ChatGPT, that allows generating images in the style of Studio Ghibli, raised debates about intellectual property and copyright. Although visual styles are not protected by copyright, the use of protected works to train AI models raises legal questions. Specialists indicate that, if AI models were trained with works protected by copyright, this can be challenged in court.
Through the press, the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, has already expressed disapproval regarding AI-generated art, considering it a "slap in the face of life itself" and highlighting the importance of human touch in artistic creation.
In the face of controversies, OpenAI implemented restrictions, allowing ChatGPT to generate images in studio styles, but prohibiting the replication of the style of living artists.
The founding partner of the Di Blasi office, Related & Associated, specialized in Intellectual Property Law, Paulo Parente, explain why the issue is on the global agenda: "Artificial intelligence is challenging the traditional boundaries of copyright by generating works that imitate the styles and aesthetics of established artists. What was once a matter of individual protection has now become an urgent global debate, because the ease with which algorithms can replicate an author's creative identity jeopardizes the appreciation of human work and the very essence of originality. In light of this scenario, it is essential that the law keeps up with this technological revolution, ensuring a balance between innovation, ethics and the protection of creators, so that the advancement of AI does not result in the dilution of copyright and the devaluation of human creativity.”
There is a need for a continuous debate on the balance between technological innovation and respect for artists' rights, in addition to possible revisions in intellectual property laws to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence.
