AI and Copyright: Understanding the Issues, Lawsuits, and What Comes Next

This CLE offers an accessible, in-depth overview of one of today’s most consequential legal debates—the clash between artificial intelligence and copyright law. As generative AI tools rely on vast quantities of copyrighted works for training, courts are now being asked to decide whether such use constitutes lawful fair use or unlawful reproduction. This session unpacks the central legal and policy questions at the heart of ongoing litigation, including The New York Times v. OpenAI, Getty Images v. Stability AI, and other landmark cases.

Speaker: Oliver Roberts, Co-Director, WashU Law AI Collaborative; Adjunct Professor of Law at WashU Law; Co-Head of AI Practice Group at Holtzman Vogel

Participants will gain insight into:

• The competing legal theories driving the AI training vs. copyright infringement debate
• How courts are analyzing data scraping, transformative use, and market substitution
• The practical implications for creators, platforms, and AI developers
• Emerging trends in judicial reasoning and what future rulings may mean for copyright law

By the end of this session, attendees will understand both the current legal landscape and the broader policy tensions between innovation, creative rights, and the evolving role of AI in content creation.

Hosted by:
Washington University School of Law — AI Collaborative “AI Policy Series”

Eligible for FREE CLE in Missouri, courtesy of WashU Law.

Not eligible for CLE in other jurisdictions, but all are welcome to attend free for non-CLE credit.