U.S. Copyright Office Rules Fully AI-Generated Works Cannot Be Copyrighted

New guidance emphasizes the necessity of human creativity for copyright protection, while AI-assisted works remain eligible on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Copyright Office clarified that works entirely generated by AI are not eligible for copyright protection under current law.
Human creativity remains central to copyright eligibility, with AI-assisted works being evaluated individually to determine the extent of human input.
Prompts used in generative AI systems do not constitute sufficient human control or authorship, regardless of their complexity or specificity.
AI can be used as a tool in creative processes, and human-authored elements within AI-assisted works can still qualify for copyright protection.
The guidance does not require new legislation but suggests that copyright law can adapt to AI-related questions through existing frameworks.