Copyright
Copyright and AI
Copyright and AI
Written by Martin Ågren - May 30, 2026
Copyright Is:
The right granted to the creator of a literary or artistic work (the author/creator) to decide how the work may be used.
In other words:
The creator's right to decide how the work may be used.
Copyright protects the work against unauthorized copying, distribution, or modification.
Only natural persons can hold copyright, according to Swedish legislation.
AI cannot BE an author/creator.
A work must reach originality for copyright to arise.
Originality is achieved when a natural person has worked creatively on the work and placed their personal imprint on the work.
You find a beautiful rock on the ground. The rock has NO author/creator at this stage. Finding the rock does NOT mean that you are the author/creator of the rock.
However, if you shape the rock in a creative way and add your personal imprint to it, then you become the author/creator IF the rock achieves sufficient originality.
You have AI generate an image by clicking the "Generate a Random Image" button. That image has NO author/creator at this stage.
However, if you, when prompting an image, make your own creative choices/instructions that influenced the result, then you become the author/creator IF the image achieves sufficient originality.
Read the terms and conditions for the AI service you plan to use. Tip: if there is a lot of text/terms to read through, get help from another AI service to analyze the terms.
It can make a big difference what type of subscription you have with the AI provider. Free subscriptions often give the AI company greater rights to use your works for marketing, training, and analysis.
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