Out from the shadows: developing effective copyright laws for AI training datasets and shadow libraries

This paper explores the National Emergency Library (NEL) created by the Internet Archive (IA) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NEL allowed unrestricted access to the IA’s collection of digitized books, suspending the waitlist imposed by the Controlled Digital Lending system. The study uses Carol Bacchi’s What’s the Problem Represented to be (WPR) approach to analyze problem representations in media narratives and understand the response to the NEL. The study covers articles written between March 2020 and 2 years after, using a threepronged reading consisting of a distant, middle, and close reading. The analysis reveals that the IA and NEL are not necessarily consistent with piracy or shadow libraries, but that they differ in complexity and compliance with copyright law. The paper contributes to a critical understanding of how problem representations are constructed and shaped in media narratives, and how this affects digital libraries in times of crisis, and subsequently, policy discourse for all libraries. Overall, the paper highlights the complexities and nuances surrounding the NEL and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the implications of this response for digital libraries and copyright law.

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has received increasing attention from language researchers and educators due to its capability to influence student language performance. Very limited previous meta-analysis studies have examined instructional factors in their analysis, while it deserves great attention. Task-based language teaching (TBLT) is a widely applied language instructional approach. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis study adopts TBLT to investigate how these instructional factors (e.g., task-based variables, learner variables) impact student language learning in GenAI contexts. Using the PRISMA guidelines, we collected literature and included 25 empirical studies involving 2,431 participants. The study confirmed the positive influence of GenAI on language learning and identified three moderators—student AI literacy, task planning, and task assessors—that potentially moderate its effectiveness. This finding likely relates to the GenAI tools employed; specifically, ChatGPT—not primarily designed for language learning—was used most frequently. This general-purpose GenAI may require students to understand how AI works, how to plan their tasks, and the necessity of involving teachers as assessors. We suggest teachers should get more involved in language learning with GenAI, and more language learning-specific GenAI should be developed. These suggestions help institutions and teachers to plan their instructions in the AI era.

This chapter explores the degree of adaptability of truly aspects of the patent and copyright systems such as the objects of protection, qualification of the right holder, ownership of patent or copyright, judgment of infringement, and subjects of liability, in a new AI era when AI algorithms independently make inventions and create literary and artistic works based on their deep learning ability. Then explores the role of the patent and the copyright law system as to the extent that they accord with the principle of fairness, both for the current “Weak AI era” and the future “Strong AI era”. Based on case studies, this chapter analyses a series of challenges brought by the development of AI technology to the current patent law and copyright law, try to suggest some possible solutions including but not limited to changing the primary rights, adding secondary rights, Sui Generis Right and new exceptions and limitations.

The nineteenth century saw significant change in the context and focus of copyright law. During the eighteenth century, copyright laws had national effect, and were tailored to national interests. But during the nineteenth century, different political, industrial, and economic conditions led to demands for a wider outlook. British copyright law exemplifies the challenge of these changes. In 1837 the lawyer and author Thomas Talfourd introduced a copyright bill which expressed a bold vision of copyright reform including significant domestic consolidation and active international copyright arrangements. It took five years before any bill was passed, and its provisions were significantly modified in the process. The resulting 1842 Copyright Act did not achieve all the reforms that its visionary champion had hoped for, and it proved to have a number of defects which grew more obvious as the century wore on. Nevertheless it formed the basis of modern copyright law, and in relation to domestic law its groundwork is visible well into the twentieth century. International copyright took rather longer to develop, but it was of increasing importance. British writers wanted copyright protection not just in Britain itself, but in all places where there was a market for their books. The position in continental Europe, in the British colonies, and in America was therefore of great significance. There were many changes affecting copyright law during this period, which were often ardently contested. There was a great deal of significant legal activity, both in the form of legislation and also in case law. Given the extent of the market for British copyright works, this wider geographical legal context was of direct relevance to all Victorian writers and publishers—and to readers. One difficulty when reforming copyright law is the breadth and significance of the activities and themes that it touches. These include the nature of copyright (and of intellectual property more widely), literary and artistic culture in the broadest sense, popular education, the public interest, the publishing trade, international trade and competition, constitutional freedom and independence, and national character. It is challenging to take account of such issues, even in a domestic context. When other national positions are brought to bear on the outcome, the task of negotiating a copyright law that reconciles all interests can seem almost impossible. In addition, these matters will be subject to political and economic pressures, and touched by the general trends and changes which affect all societies. The debate regarding copyright’s proper aims and mechanisms was a fierce one in the Victorian era—as it had been since the first British copyright statute, the Statute of Anne 1710. It is a debate which is still very much continuing today.

Copyright Law in an Age of Limitations and Exceptions brings together leading copyright scholars and the field's foremost authorities to consider the critical role of copyright law in shaping the complex social, economic, and political interaction critical for cultural productivity and human flourishing. The book addresses defining issues facing copyright law today, including justifications for copyright law's limitations and exceptions (L&Es), the role of authors in copyright, users' rights, fair use politics and reform, the three-step test in European copyright law, the idea/expression principle with respect to functional works, limits on the use of L&Es in scientific innovation, and L&Es as a tool for economic development in international copyright law. The book also presents case studies on the historical development of the concept of 'neighboring rights' and on Harvard Law School's pioneering model of global copyright education, made possible by the exercise of L&Es across national borders.

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is reshaping the job landscape by altering firms' labor demands and task requirements across occupations. This study investigates the impact of the launch of GenAI on firms' demand for specific tasks within occupations, focusing on how ChatGPT has influenced the relative desirability of different task types. Building on the task-based approach by Acemoglu and Autor (2011), we classify tasks into routine and non-routine, cognitive and non-cognitive, as well as offshorable and non-offshorable categories. Leveraging the public release of ChatGPT as an exogenous shock, our empirical strategy applies a continuous difference-in-differences approach to estimate the task reallocation effects in job postings across firms with different levels of exposure to ChatGPT. Our findings reveal that GenAI drives firms’ demand for talents engaged in both non-routine cognitive and non-routine manual tasks. Similarly, GenAI accentuates the continued importance of routine-based tasks. In addition, our study also shows that GenAI reduces the offshorability of jobs, shifting the focus toward tasks that require local execution. This study is among the first to provide empirical evidence on how GenAI is altering job content and thus provides profound implications for policymakers and business stakeholders, prompting the need for strategic adjustments and the alignment with the evolving nature of job tasks in the (Gen)AI era.

Generative AI tools and empowerment in L2 academic writing

Unavoidable Aesthetic Judgments in Copyright Law: A Community of Practice Standard

IntroductionThis study investigates faculty perceptions of academic integrity policies addressing traditional and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) plagiarism at an internationalized higher education institution in the UAE.MethodologyEmploying a mixed-methods approach, quantitative data were collected from 71 faculty members representing 37 nations via an online survey, supplemented by qualitative insights from 17 semi-structured interviews. The research assessed perceptions across five dimensions—availability, visibility, clarity, adequacy, and effectiveness—based on Bretag et al.’s (2011) framework.ResultsResults revealed significant disparities between traditional and GenAI policies, with both rated only moderately effective. Faculty demonstrated a preference for educative over punitive approaches while identifying workload constraints, insufficient institutional support, detection challenges, cultural leniency, and systemic limitations as barriers to policy enforcement. A hierarchical perception of GenAI plagiarism emerged, with direct content copying considered most serious and AI-assisted practices involving minimal student contribution viewed less severely. Lower response rates to Gen-AI scenarios reflected faculty uncertainty amid insufficient guidelines.DiscussionThe findings underscore the necessity for agile, comprehensive policies that address technological advancements while emphasizing faculty engagement and contextual support. This research contributes novel insights into underexplored scenarios including language assistance, translation, peer idea sharing, and citation errors, illuminating the evolving landscape of academic integrity in digital and collaborative environments. The study advocates for balanced frameworks integrating educative strategies, technological tools, and cultural sensitivities to maintain academic integrity standards in the AI era.

Public science is critical to the economy and to society. However, much of the beneficial impact of scientific research only occurs when scientific knowledge is disseminated broadly and is used by others. This thesis examines the emerging policy, law, and practice of facilitating open access to scientific research data. One particular focus is to examine the open data policies recently introduced by research funders and publishers, and the potential in these for driving the practice of open scientific data into the future. This thesis identifies five major stumbling blocks to sustainable open scientific data. Firstly, the prevailing ‘mindset’ that facilitating open access to data is analogous to facilitating open access to publications and, therefore, research data can easily be shared, with research funders and librarians effectively leading the process. Secondly, the unclear meaning of the term ‘data’, which causes confusion among stakeholders. Thirdly, ‘misunderstood incentives’ for data sharing and the additional inputs required from researchers. Fourthly, ‘data privacy’—an issue that only applies to selected research datasets, and yet appears to dominate the discussion about open research data. Finally, there is ‘copyright law’, which poses challenges at different stages of data release and reuse. In this thesis, I argue that the above problems can be addressed using a staged model for open scientific data. I draw specifically on the practice with open scientific data at CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) and the practice of sharing clinical trial data to argue that open data can be shared at various stages of processing and diversification. This model is supplemented by recommendations proposing changes to existing open data mandates and the introduction of a text and data mining exemption into Australian copyright law.

This study investigates how generative artificial intelligence (AI) could influence the media environment of that country. Given their prevalence in the industry, it seeks to uncover how general process of national advancement is supported by AI-powered technologies in media content generation, distribution, and personalisation. The research gathers data from media professionals, techies, and communication academics in major Chinese cities all around using properly crafted questionnaires in a quantitative manner. One examined the interactions of AI-driven media innovation, modernising pace, and consequences of national development using statistical methods like structural equation modelling and regression analysis. Linking modernism with national development projects, the indices of generative AI used in media show a definite positive link with their influence. Generative AI is becoming more and more important for China's attempts to modernise its communication infrastructure and undergo digital transformation, thereby enhancing the nation's cultural impact, technical capacity, and media creation. Modernism approaches enhance the possibilities presented by AI in media; this research reveals more dynamic storylines, audience interaction feasible, and global outreach. Every one of these components helps to forward objectives for national growth. Regarding developing plans to mix AI with goals for sustainable development, the findings give legislators, media outlets, and AI developers’ useful insights. This study offers a structure for further studies in new media technologies and national transformation by means of an experimental interaction between generative AI and national development seen from the perspective of modernism. It opens the conversation on the social opportunities AI offers.

With the rapid development of globalization and informatization, the role of copyright law in balancing the rights and interests of creators and the public interest is becoming increasingly prominent. This article delves into the similarities and differences between the Marrakesh Treaty and China’s copyright law, particularly in terms of protecting the rights and interests of people with reading disabilities. The Marrakesh Treaty, as an important achievement of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), provides convenience for people with reading disabilities worldwide to access published works through limited copyright law modifications and exceptions. As a signatory of this treaty, China’s revision and implementation of its copyright law have a significant impact on the international intellectual property protection system. This article provides an overview of the background, core concepts, and limitations of the Marrakesh Treaty, and introduces the basic situation of China’s copyright law. By comparing the similarities and differences between the Marrakesh Treaty and China’s copyright law, this paper explores the provisions of both in protecting the rights and interests of people with reading disabilities, and proposes suggestions for improving China’s copyright law. These suggestions include clearly defining the scope of application of the treaty, expanding the definition of beneficiaries, adding cross-border transaction clauses for accessible works, reasonably avoiding technical protection measures, and strengthening the construction of implementation mechanisms and supervision systems. Although there are differences between the Marrakesh Treaty and China’s Copyright Law in protecting the rights and interests of people with reading disabilities, their common goal is to ensure that people with reading disabilities have equal access to cultural and educational materials through legal means, promote their social participation and cultural enjoyment. The revision process of China’s Copyright Law actively absorbs and transforms the provisions of the Marrakesh Treaty, demonstrating China’s efforts and determination in fulfilling international obligations, promoting social equity and inclusiveness.

Introducing the Open Clause to improve copyright flexibility in cyberspace? Analysis and commentary on the proposed “two-step test” in the Third Amendment to the Copyright Law of the PRC, in comparison with the EU and the US

Recent copyright lawsuits against artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model (LLM) developers have ignited debates over how to balance technological innovation with the public interest. In the scientific research field, the performance and reliability of LLMs trained on scientific literature (SciLit-LLMs) depend heavily on access to comprehensive, up-to-date full-text sources. This paper argues that the current copyright framework, including the U.S. fair use doctrine, often regarded as a flexible solution for AI-related copyright issues, is ill-suited for SciLit-LLMs. First, the normative values emphasized in scientific-such as accuracy, transparency and interpretability-fundamentally conflict with the "transformative use" requirement central to copyright law. Second, the expression of scientific literature is intended to ensure scientific precision rather than to convey creative originality, remains insufficiently considered under current copyright law. Third, the fair use doctrine's emphasis on limiting the proportion of use from a single copyrighted work contradicts the need for comprehensive training on information-dense scientific texts. Finally, commercial use restrictions impede the sustainable development of SciLit-LLMs and preclude a mutually beneficial model for researchers, publishers, developers, and the public. Imposing current copyright restrictions on these models is unjustified, unnecessary, and risks perpetuating scientific biases. We therefore propose reconstructing copyright exceptions for scientific literature and removing commercial use restrictions to better support scientific innovation.

The current rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is driving a transformation in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and events) industry. The commercial scale of AI technology in China is projected to reach 207 billion yuan by 2025; however, its application within the MICE sector remains in its early stages. This study employs an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework and introduces the variable “employee spontaneous innovation (ESI)” to explore the factors influencing employees’ behavioral intention to use GAI in China’s MICE industry. Specifically, it addresses two questions: (1) Do subjective norm, attitude, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) affect employees’ intention to use GAI, and what is the extent to which they explain this intention? (2) What is the relationship between employees’ behavioral intention to use GAI and ESI? The research utilizes a questionnaire survey method and obtained 218 valid samples after screening. A structural equation model (SEM) was constructed for parameter estimation and model fit analysis using Generalized Least Squares (GLS). The findings are as follows: First, employees’ attitudes toward GAI significantly positively influence their behavioral intention to use GAI. Second, the intention to use GAI has a significant positive effect on ESI. Third, subjective norms significantly positively impact both employees’ attitudes toward GAI and their PBC. This study enriches the application of TPB theory within the MICE industry by providing theoretical foundations and practical references for enhancing work quality and innovation through promoting employee usage of GAI. Additionally, it offers a framework for technological integration during digital transformation within the industry.