Who owns the copyright to AI-generated art?

Question

Accepted Answer

Copyright ownership of AI-generated art is complex and evolving.

**Current US position (2026):**
- Pure AI output with no human creativity: Not copyrightable
- AI-assisted work with significant human input: May be copyrightable
- The human creative elements (selection, arrangement, modification) can receive protection

**What this means practically:**
- Typing a simple prompt likely doesn't create copyright
- Significant curation, editing, and creative direction may qualify
- Each case is evaluated individually

**Platform terms vary:**
- Midjourney: You own outputs, need paid plan for commercial use
- DALL-E: You own outputs with commercial rights
- Stable Diffusion: Open license, you own outputs
- Adobe Firefly: Commercially safe, you own outputs

**Best practices:**
- Keep records of your creative process
- Document significant human input and decisions
- Consult an IP attorney for commercial projects
- Check platform terms before selling