{"id":67942,"date":"2025-04-09T13:09:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T11:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tasteminty.com\/page\/?p=67942"},"modified":"2025-04-09T13:43:31","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T11:43:31","slug":"protecting-your-illustrations-how-to-copyright-your-art-in-the-age-of-ai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tasteminty.com\/page\/2025\/04\/09\/protecting-your-illustrations-how-to-copyright-your-art-in-the-age-of-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Protecting Your Illustrations: How to copyright your art in the age of AI."},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”4\/6″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”3″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]<\/p>\n

With the rise of the new version of OpenAI\u2019s ChatGPT image generator, many of our fellow illustrators<\/a> are asking the same question repeatedly: \u201cIs my style copyrightable?\u201d While the short answer is yes \u2014 an artist\u2019s distinctive style is copyrightable<\/strong>\u2014a deeper discussion is necessary due to widespread confusion.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space empty_h=”3″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”1″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-193891″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_empty_space empty_h=”2″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h1″]<\/p>\n

Artistic Style vs. Artist’s Distinctive Style<\/h1>\n

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There is a difference between artistic style and artist distinctive style.<\/b><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-193891″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”1″ font_family=”font-207654″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]<\/p>\n

One factor contributing to this confusion is the lack of granularity in understanding visual styles. Often, even the best AI lawyers and ethical experts confuse artistic style with an artist\u2019s distinctive style.<\/p>\n

Indeed, artistic style\u2014that is, broad, general visual styles such as Impressionism, Cubism, or Surrealism\u2014is not copyrightable because these styles do not belong to any single individual.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”2″ font_family=”font-207654″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]<\/p>\n

However, an individual artist\u2019s distinctive style is fully protected under U.S. copyright law, under doctrines such as Work Made For Hire<\/a>. This means that the styles of individual artists\u2014such as Saul Steinberg<\/a>, known for his covers for The New Yorker<\/i>, or Antonio Rodriguez<\/a>, renowned for his popular medical illustrations characterized by sharp-edged, geometrical figures\u2014are part of their copyrightable expression.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”2″ bottom_padding=”4″ back_color=”color-193891″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”67944″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”one-one” alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” radius=”std” border=”yes” media_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.owlillustration.com%2Fportfolio%2Fantonio%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”67945″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”one-one” alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” radius=”std” border=”yes” media_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.owlillustration.com%2Fportfolio%2Fantonio%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”4″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-193891″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ inverted_device_order=”yes”][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading]<\/p>\n

Yes, artist\u2019s distinctive style can be protected by copyright<\/b>.<\/h1>\n

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However, many people might fall into the \u201cstyle blindness\u201d trap, arguing that they cannot see the difference. In doing so, each illustration artist may need to be prepared to defend the distinctiveness of their work.<\/p>\n

Here are a few important points to focus on, when making sure, your art will stand the AI onslaught:<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

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1. <\/strong>Take Preventive Measures<\/h1>\n

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First of all, the fewer AI models that train on your data without your consent, the better. As a general rule, be sure to state on your website that you do not grant permission for your visual assets to be used to train AI systems. Also, make sure to upload your portfolios to sites that integrate this permission into their metadata and are hosted on private digital clouds.<\/p>\n

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(Our sites owlagency.org<\/a> and tasteminty.com<\/a> both meet these requirements.)<\/p>\n

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2. <\/strong>Define Your Distinctive Style<\/h1>\n

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Next, define your distinctive style by identifying the characteristic elements of your work\u2014such as the typical shapes, shades, or textures you use. Make sure you capture and describe the essence of your style – don’t be too broad or too specific.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_right” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”2″ bottom_padding=”4″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”67909″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”one-one” alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” radius=”std” border=”yes” media_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.owlillustration.com%2Fportfolio%2Fkelly%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image media=”67911″ media_width_percent=”100″ media_ratio=”one-one” alignment=”center” shape=”img-round” radius=”std” border=”yes” media_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.owlillustration.com%2Fportfolio%2Fkelly%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”4″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_right” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”4\/6″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]<\/p>\n

For example, Antonio\u2019s work (if you scroll a bit up) is extremely easy to recognise because his style consists of geometric, sharp-edged characters or objects flattened to two dimensions. When characters appear in his work, they almost always lack facial features such as eyes, a nose, or a mouth.<\/p>\n

Illustrations by Kelly Kwok<\/a> on the other hand, have entirely different distinctive style, characterised by soft lines and\u00a0 over-bloated characters, with perspective angle often resembling “fish eye” filter. Their heads are almost always circles, with eyes marked as simple dots.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_right” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”4″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-193891″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_right” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/6″][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”4\/6″][vc_custom_heading]<\/p>\n

3. AI is here to stay. Learn how to use it.<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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Lastly, while AI certainly cannot steal or copy your work, it would be counterproductive to fight for a future without AI or image generation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Given the speed and money invested in its development, assuming that AI can be blocked is simply not valid and will only lead to wasted energy. Moreover, AI is being built as we speak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]<\/p>\n

As artists, we have a unique opportunity to shape AI in a direction that benefits us. <\/strong><\/p>\n

What does that mean?<\/p>\n

Do your research, limit the use of anonymous AI bots, clearly define your copyrightable distinctive style, and find an AI tool that respects your needs and can help supercharge your creative process.<\/p>\n

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