AI and Copyright: GIMPA Law Dean calls for modernization of Ghana’s framework

The Dean of the GIMPA Law School, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu has called for the modernization of the nation’s copyright framework to encompass AI-generated content.

He added that such a move ought also to recognize the role of AI tools as facilitators of creativity while acknowledging the value of human creativity as the foundation of artistic expression.

Delivering his speech as the keynote speaker at a public lecture organized by the Faculty of Law of the Wisconsin University College, Accra in honor of Professor Justice(Rtd) Samuel Date-Bah, the GIMPA Dean admitted that Ghana's copyright regulation in this era of AI is faced with several challenges.

He thus called for the urgent recalibration of our copyright enforcement mechanisms to safeguard and consolidate our economic interests in the Ghanaian creative sector.

In doing so, Dr. Budu highlighted a range of opportunities available to the nation in its quest to achieve the desired result.

Firstly, he mentioned the need for clarification on the Legal definition of authorship, and ownership as well as the definition of the category of AI-assisted content to address ownership and authorship of works.

Also, Dr Agyeman indicated the Incentivization of AI collaboration and innovation to leverage the collaboration between AI creators, and holders by offering legal mechanisms for partnership.

Moreover, he called for the amendment of the provisions of the Copyright Act to acknowledge the transformative nature of AI-generated content on copyrightable works and tailor existing exceptions to encompass AI-specific scenarios thus ensuring our copyright regime remains adaptable to the changing dynamics.

Once again, the Law Dean said that it is time to publish clear ethical guidelines for creatives, AI developers, and users for responsible data usage, proper attribution of works, and compliance with copyright norms, and again Investment in a digital copyright management system.

In summary, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu suggested the establishment of a framework that will grant limited rights to AI-generated content, while ensuring that the foundational and traditional principles of copyright law remain intact.

The lecture was on the theme; “Copyright Law in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”