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Copyright and AI wasn’t even on my radar until I stumbled across Jason Calacanis This Week in Startups podcast episode. I use AI tools like everyone else, but I’d never stopped to think about the legal side of things. Big mistake.
I clicked on Jason’s podcast expecting maybe some light tech discussion. Instead, I found myself diving into a rabbit hole I didn’t even know existed: AI creations can’t actually be copyrighted. Wait, what?
As Jason walked through the basics, I realized I’d been operating under completely wrong assumptions. All those times I’ve used AI for work, personal projects, or just messing around—I never once considered the copyright implications. Here’s what I learned that I probably should have known already:
Copyright law was built around humans creating things. When AI creates something independently, there’s literally no legal framework for who owns it. The AI isn’t a person, so it can’t hold copyright. But then there’s this messy middle ground—what happens when you prompt an AI extensively, edit its output, or use it as part of a larger creative process? Turns out, nobody really knows where those lines are. And here’s the kicker: if an AI generates something without enough human input, it might just be free for anyone to use. I’d never considered this possibility.
As Jason explained the implications, I kept having those uncomfortable “oh crap” moments. All those AI-generated images I’ve used in presentations—did I have any protection if someone copied them? That time I used ChatGPT to help brainstorm marketing copy—what parts could actually be copyrighted? Every business I know is using AI now—are they all walking into the same blind spot I was?
This podcast completely changed how I think about using AI tools. Now I’m wondering how much human creativity needs to be involved for copyright protection to kick in. Are we heading toward a world where AI-generated content is just… free for everyone? What does this mean for industries built on creative content?
The biggest takeaway for me wasn’t any specific legal point—it was realizing how much I’d been taking for granted. I assumed the digital world worked like the physical world when it comes to ownership and creation. Turns out, we’re in completely uncharted territory. Jason’s discussion really drove home how fast technology is outpacing our legal systems. We’re all figuring this out as we go, and most of us (myself included) are way behind the curve on understanding what it all means.
I’m not going to stop using AI tools—that would be impossible at this point. But I’m definitely going to start thinking about the copyright angle before I dive in. It’s one of those topics that seems abstract until you realize it could actually affect your work, your business, or your creative projects.
If you’re like me and haven’t given much thought to AI copyright, do yourself a favor and listen to Jason’s full breakdown. It’s the conversation I didn’t know I needed to hear!
Thanks, Jason, for the wake-up call. Sometimes the most important topics are the ones we don’t think to think about.
Anyone else discover they had a blind spot around AI copyright?
