Artificial Intelligence, Copyright Law, and the Creative Industries

This 8-hour executive online course provides an in-depth insight into novel copyright and regulatory challenges raised by generative AI technologies across the creative industries.

Overview

The Artificial Intelligence, Copyright Law, and the Creative Industries executive course provides timely, expert analysis of how copyright law is adapting to AI-generated content.

Generative AI technologies like ChatGPT and Suno now produce text, images, music, and video that rivals human creativity, raising urgent questions about authorship, ownership, and infringement. The creative industries face transformative disruption.

Recent litigation involving major publishers, artists, and technology companies demonstrates the urgent need for both legal practitioners and creative industry professionals to understand these evolving issues.

The course examines a set of novel legal questions. Can AI-generated works be protected by copyright? What about human-authored works created using AI assistance? Do AI training datasets infringe existing copyrights? How should licensing frameworks evolve? What protections exist for human creators?

It uniquely combines theoretical rigour with practical application, drawing on Dr Luke McDonagh’s extensive intellectual property research and engagement with current AI legal developments. Participants will gain knowledge relevant to their professional practice, addressing unprecedented regulatory challenges at the intersection of artificial intelligence, creativity, and copyright law.

Aims

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Analyse how generative AI challenges traditional copyright doctrines, including originality, authorship and the idea–expression dichotomy
• Evaluate legal arguments about AI training and infringement, including fair use/fair dealing and text and data mining exceptions
• Explain current legal approaches to ownership and copyrightability of AI-generated and AI-assisted works across multiple jurisdictions
• Assess emerging regulatory frameworks, including the EU AI Act and UK legislative proposals, in the context of creative industries
• Develop practical strategies for advising clients, managing risk and protecting creative assets in AI-enabled environments

Target audience

• Legal practitioners (UK and international) working in intellectual property, media, technology and commercial litigation who advise creative or tech-sector clients
• In-house counsel in creative industries (publishing, music, film/TV, gaming, advertising) and technology companies developing or deploying AI tools
• Creative industry professionals, including senior executives, rights managers, licensing directors and policy professionals
• Policymakers and regulators involved in IP policy and AI governance

Course content

Topics

• Foundations of copyright law and generative AI
• Concepts of work, originality, authorship and the human creator requirement
• AI training data and copyright infringement
• Fair use, fair dealing and text and data mining exceptions
• Ownership and protection of AI-generated and AI-assisted works
• Moral rights and creative practice
• Sector-specific issues in publishing, music, visual arts and film/television
• Licensing models and contractual strategies for AI-related uses
• Emerging regulatory frameworks, including the EU AI Act and UK proposals
• Comparative perspectives from the UK, EU, US and other jurisdictions

Throughout, the course emphasises practical application through case studies, real-world examples, and interactive discussion of recent legal developments. Participants will analyse draft contracts, evaluate risk scenarios, and develop strategic recommendations for clients and organisations navigating this complex landscape.

Teaching materials

Participants will have access to comprehensive course materials, including pre-session readings, slides, case materials, session recordings, and supplementary resources

Academic staff

Course convenor

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  Dr Luke McDonagh is an Associate Professor of Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He joined LSE Law School in 2020.

  He undertakes research in the areas of Intellectual Property Law and Constitutional Law. Prior to taking up his position at LSE he was a Senior Lecturer at City, University of London (2015-2020), a Lecturer at Cardiff University (2013-2015) and LSE Fellow (2011-13). Luke holds a PhD from Queen Mary, University of London (2011), an LL.M from the London School of Economics (LSE) (2006-7) and a B.C.L. degree from NUI, Galway (2002-05). He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

  Luke has published widely in respected journals including The Modern Law Review, theCambridge Law Journal, the Journal of Law and Society, Intellectual Property Quarterly, Civil Justice Quarterly and the International Journal of Cultural Property. Luke is the author of the monograph European Patent Litigation in the Shadow of the Unified Patent Court (Edward Elgar, 2016) and the co-author (along with Prof. Stavroula Karapapa of the University of Reading) of the text book Intellectual Property Law (OUP, 2019). His most recent monograph is Performing Copyright: Law, Theatre and Authorship (Hart, 2021). In 2023-24 he was awarded the prestigious Lalive and Merryman Fellowship Award for the best article published in the International Journal of Cultural Property in 2022.

Professional services staff

Course manager

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  Amanda Tinnams is the Short Course Manager at LSE Law School, bringing over two decades of experience managing short course programs. Amanda has successfully overseen courses offered on-campus, online and internationally. She is committed to creating impactful learning experiences that combine academic excellence with practical application, supporting professionals and organisations worldwide.

Course schedule and FAQs