Chris Mohr, President of the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), recently participated in a USPTO roundtable discussion on the intersection of AI technology and legal protections for individuals’ reputations and identities, including name, image, voice, and likeness (NIL). This discussion explored whether existing legal frameworks are sufficient to address the challenges posed by AI, especially in the context of NIL and other identity indicators.
Mohr highlighted the importance of AI accountability and governance, emphasizing the need for technology that produces accurate, unbiased, and reliable information. He also stressed the significance of respecting intellectual property (IP) laws and cautioned against premature changes to copyright laws, particularly in relation to the ongoing litigation concerning the use of copyrighted works in training generative AI models.
The roundtable offered an opportunity to examine how AI intersects with IP and privacy concerns, particularly the implications of AI-generated digital replicas. Mohr discussed the potential harms that can arise from such uses, including economic and privacy injuries, and called for a nuanced, case-by-case approach to any regulatory changes. He concluded by emphasizing the need for careful consideration of existing laws and the potential gaps that AI technologies might introduce, advocating for thoughtful, targeted solutions.
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