A royalty framework for copyright protection and accountability in AI-generated art

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence has profoundly reshaped the landscape of creative production, but it has also raised critical questions regarding authorship, copyright, and ethical accountability. This paper engages with the growing discourse on the legal status of AI-generated content, emphasizing the challenges it poses to existing copyright frameworks and the rights of human creators. Our research proposes a quantitative, multi-modal framework designed to assess the influence of artists whose works are potentially reflected in AI-generated art. Drawing from contemporary discussion in digital ethics, IP law, and AI governance, this work advocates for the development of enforceable mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability, and attribution in creative AI systems. It also underscores the pressing need for international legal harmonization and policy intervention to safeguard the labor, legacy, and moral rights of artists. The study contributes to the broader movement toward responsible and equitable innovation, where the protection of human intellectual contribution remains central to the evolution of AI-generated cultural production.