Can AI Claim Ownership Of Inventions? A US Court's Landmark Judgement On The Issue
Artificial intelligence systems may have been posited as human killers in science fiction for many years, but the poor algorithms and the software they support cannot even find recognition in United States law... yet!?
AI not inventors for the time being
A US federal judge, Leonie Brikema ruled last week that artificial intelligence cannot be listed as an inventor on a patent in the US. The case was filed by Stephen Thaler, part of the Artificial Inventor Project - an initiative aimed at allowing AI to be listed as an inventor in a patent.?
Mind you, even if this were possible, the AI's owner would legally own the patent.After the US Patent and Trademark Office denied Thaler's application which mentioned an AI named "DABUS" as an inventor, Thaler sued the office.?
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DABUS invented a new type of torch light and a container for beverages.The Patent Office responded to Thaler multiple times over months, claiming that a machine cannot be an inventor because it is not a person.?
The agency maintained that the machine is simply a tool used by humans to invent more machines and items.?
AI is expected to continue making inventions and it is entirely possible that humans may be able to train AIs to invent things that human themselves would not be capable of producing.?Naturally, the legal definition of ownership should also be changed then.?
AI not an "individual"
The judge in question found that the Patent Office's observations were correct, partly due to the language used in the patent law, which refers to inventors as "individuals" and AI definitely doesn't fall on that spectrum.?
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But the radical change in creative forces at play behind inventions from humans to AI isn't happening anytime soon and AI still has a long way to go. But it will most definitely get there with the right kind of infrastructural support.?
When AIs make inventions, it may benefit all of us especially in life-saving sectors like healthcare. Would you endorse the idea of giving ownership rights to AI? Or does the idea make you uncomfortable? Let us know below and don't forget to refresh Indiatimes.com for the latest on all-things-AI!
