Copyright Law in Flux - AI Systems, Judicial Trends & Practical Implications for IP Lawyers

Introduction

Copyright law is undergoing rapid and complex transformation as courts are increasingly asked to apply established principles to artificial intelligence, digital content ecosystems and online dissemination at scale. For intellectual property lawyers, this shift is no longer theoretical, it is actively reshaping risk, liability and enforcement strategy in real time.

Recent jurisprudence, including Getty Images v Stability AI Ltd, illustrates how traditional doctrines such as authorship, infringement and intermediary liability are being tested against AI training processes, generative outputs and large-scale scraping of copyrighted material. These developments are redefining evidential thresholds and challenging long-standing assumptions about copying, substantial similarity and authorised use in automated systems and platform-based distribution models.

For practitioners, engaging with these developments provides a critical advantage: the ability to anticipate infringement exposure earlier, advise with greater precision on AI-related compliance frameworks and structure licensing and risk mitigation strategies that reflect how courts are now interpreting digital reproduction and dataset use. This directly supports stronger client outcomes, reduced litigation risk and more defensible governance of third-party content in both traditional and AI-driven environments.

Attending this session will equip intellectual property lawyers with practical insight into emerging case law, evolving judicial reasoning and applied risk indicators, enabling more confident, forward-looking legal advice in a rapidly evolving copyright landscape.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• A brief review of core copyright principles, including subsistence requirements, the scope of protectable subject matter, moral rights, infringement analysis and key statutory and common law defences
• Recent case law and regulatory developments shaping practice - examination of Getty Images v Stability AI (AI training and copyright infringement issues), WaterRower v Liking (originality in functional works), alongside developments in UK policy, including the Government’s evolving position on AI and copyright and its response to the House of Lords’ March 2026 report
• Practical implications for businesses and rights holders - guidance on AI-specific risk identification and mitigation, responsible use of third-party content (including the treatment of limited extracts) and the importance of robust and appropriately structured licensing frameworks
• Consolidation of the principal legal and regulatory developments, with clear, actionable insights for advising clients and managing copyright risk in practice

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.