Supreme Court refuses to hear AI art copyright appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal over whether AI-generated art can receive copyright protection, leaving the broader dispute over digital creation unresolved. Stephen Thaler filed for copyright of a piece of moving digital art in 2018, and the U.S.

Copyright Office rejected the application in 2022 on the grounds that the work was not created by a human. In 2025 the office issued a report saying "unedited outputs of generative AI tools" would not qualify for protection, while art that "retained the centrality of human creativity" could be eligible, though not expressive elements solely determined by a machine.

The copyright status of AI-generated and AI-assisted works remains contested, and the office has turned down similar claims from artists who argued certain AI-assisted pieces should fall under the 2025 interpretation. Thaler has also appealed rejected Patent and Trademark Office applications, urging the court to decide whether AI-generated inventions are eligible for U.S.

United States

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