3 Count: Early Christmas

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1: U.S. Copyright Office Backtracks on Registration of Partially AI-Generated Work

First off today, Franklin Graves at IPWatchdog reports that the U.S. Copyright Office has begun the process of revoking a copyright registration that was granted to the human author of a piece of artwork that was generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

The work was a graphic novel entitled Zarya Of The Dawn, which was created and registered by Kristina Kashtanova. Though the USCO had previously said that AI-generated works would not qualify for copyright protection, the registration in this piece was granted because Kashtanova listed herself as the author, not the AI.

After the news broke, the USCO sent her a letter that said her registration may be cancelled as she did not indicate what parts of the work were AI-created. On copyright registrations, the person filing it has a section where they can exclude certain elements, which the USCO seems to believe should have been used to exclude AI-create components. Kashtanova has 30 days to defend her registration.

2: Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck Sue Professor Who Accused Them of Plagiarism

Next up today, Laura Snapes at The Guardian reports that Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck have filed a lawsuit against Bruce Jackson, a professor and folklorist who claims a song written by the famous due plagiarizes a song written by an incarcerated man.

The accusations began in August, with Jackson accusing Depp and Beck of taking lines from a poem that was published in Jackson’s 1974 book Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me when writing their song Sad Motherfuckin’ Parade. The original author of the poem is unknown, but Jackson says he was told the poem by an inmate named Slim Wilson.

Initially, Depp and Beck said that they would examine the claims and make any needed adjustments. However, they have since filed a lawsuit, alleging that Jackson has no rights to the poem and, even if he did, the duo did not infringe. Lawyers representing Jackson say that the lawsuit is an attempt to deflect from the fact that they copied the lyrics in question.

3: Mariah Carey Accuser Drops Lawsuit Over ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’

Finally today, Bill Donahue at Billboard reports that musician Vince Vance has asked for his lawsuit against Mariah Carey to be dismissed, though he’s asking for him to be granted leave should he wish to refile it in the future.

Vance filed the lawsuit in June, alleging that Carey’s 1994 hit song All I Want for Christmas is You is an infringement of his earlier song by the same name. However, it was quickly noted that, other than the identical title, there were no similarities between the songs.

Little had been done with the case before its dismissal, but most agreed that Vance would have some significant obstacles in pushing it. Neither side had any comment about the dismissal.

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