The legal implications of an AI reworking copyrighted images are complex and depend on various factors such as the extent of human involvement in the process and the extent to which the AI has transformed the original work. In the United States, a recent court ruling has determined that AI-generated art cannot receive copyright protection under current law. This is because the US Constitution authorizes Congress to grant copyright protection only to works created by human authors.
The ethical implications of AI reworking copyrighted images are also complex. Some argue that AI-generated art is a form of creativity and should be protected by copyright laws. Others argue that AI-generated art lacks the human element necessary for true creativity and therefore should not be protected. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential for AI to be used to infringe on the copyrights of human artists by using their work as input to create new works without permission. Overall, the legal and ethical implications of AI reworking copyrighted images are still being explored and debated.