In his article “Responsible AI Starts with Licensing,” in the current issue of The Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts, CCC’s Roy Kaufman argues that the path to ethical and practical AI begins not with radical reinvention, but with a firm commitment to existing copyright principles, specifically, licensing. Kaufman dismantles the myth that AI represents an unprecedented challenge to copyright law. Instead, he points to a proven and practical framework that has long governed the reuse of creative works: the licensing process.
Kaufman emphasizes that the core of responsible AI is sourcing high-quality, copyrighted content created through intellectual labor, which deserves to be used with the consent of its creators. Licensing ensures not only legal compliance but also the integrity and trustworthiness of AI outputs. By relying on licensed content, developers uphold human-centric values and the long-standing principles of economic justice for creators.
The article counters alarmist narratives that suggest current laws are inadequate for the age of AI or that creators’ rights must be sacrificed to fuel innovation. Kaufman highlights how past technological advancements, such as photocopying or digital music, prompted similar calls to bypass copyright, yet were ultimately addressed through licensing solutions that strike a balance between innovation and creators’ rights.
Kaufman concludes with a clear call to action: We do not need to suspend consent or undermine copyright to support AI. Instead, we must scale the responsible practices already in motion. Licensing is not only the legal backbone of copyright, but also the practical foundation for building responsible, ethical, and sustainable AI.