Masses deceived by Flawless AI-generated image of Pope Francis in Puffy Coat
Over the weekend, an AI-generated image of Pope Francis in a puffy white coat went viral on Twitter. There are AI images making their way around the internet all the time, but what was interesting here is how realistic the photo is – most people believed it was real. Based on today’s discussion in class, […]
A Judge Sided with Publishers in a Lawsuit over the Internet Archive’s Online Library
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/26/1166101459/internet-archive-lawsuit-books-library-publishers Please find attached an interesting article outlining the decision on the Internet Archive’s decision to make copies of and distribute copyrighted works for free at the start of the pandemic. In summary, the Internet Archive argued their “fair use defense rests on the notion that lawfully acquiring a copyrighted print book entitles the recipient […]
Love Island UK Season 8 winner Ekin-Su and former contestant Paige are each suing the fashion brands they signed with soon after leaving the villa last summer, alleging breach of contract
Ekin-Su signed a £1M deal with Oh Polly and released a collection with them last October. Not even six months later, Oh Polly ended the partnership. Now Ekin-Su is Ekin-suing. Paige is also suing the brand that she partnered with post-villa, Forever Unique, after signing a six-figure deal with them. Both cases appear to be […]
Spring 2023: Class 10
Slides & video below…
Levi’s to use AI fashion models in the name of ‘diversity’
Levi’s will work with Amsterdam-based digital model studio Lalaland.ai to create AI models for the company’s clothes with the goal of “increasing the number and diversity of our models for our products in a sustainable way.” The author of the article criticizes this partnership as a corporation preferring to create models rather than actually hiring humans […]
Quick Video on Deepfakes!
Disclaimer: We do not endorse or watch Joe Rogan or his nonsense, this video was simply what fit into our needs here. Ahead of our presentation, Melodie, Aki, Ricky, Chris, and I would like you to watch a 6 minute video (less if you put the speed up!) discussing some of the pitfalls and potential […]
AI Chatbots: What they really mean for the future
Some of the topics covered included topics we have mentioned – the Eliza effect of emotionally bonding with machines, the intellectual property problem, and some human tasks (and jobs) that may be substituted by AI Chatbots. As my paper is on disinformation, I quite enjoyed their focus on the problem of misinformation AI Chatbots create […]
Will TikTok be banned in the US?
The debate is happening many places worldwide and I just came across this article explaining why this is happening: https://www.nytimes.com/article/tiktok-ban.html Many regulators in the West have growing concerns about TikTok and its use of sensitive user data and, in particular, the relationship with the Chinese government. Apparently, the CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, is […]
Update on Mikayla Lashgate: Admitting to using false lashes?
While she’ll probably never admit to whether she used falsies in that ad, Mikayla’s huge platform and fanbase mean she’s relatively shielded from any real consequences for misleading advertising. Ironic that her advertising may be as false as her lashes, yet she gets to make a joke out of the controversy and fans love her […]
Presentation: Contemporary Issues in Print Media and Publishing
Hi everyone, Here are a few articles you might want to check out for our upcoming presentation: http://neil-clarke.com/a-concerning-trend/?fbclid=IwAR2nh5lwMf2yNob-DH5xjPGuvbMOmH_4MgbYNJEXRUv5XFXQ3KlHf9YZ2bE https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/12/09/penguin-random-house-ceo-leaves-after-failed-simon-schuster-merger.html?fbclid=IwAR2NG90vUXu8VZYZwVZVx3n7AxZLeIpIGzEiCPDu1hUjv_SjH8CRnpn2uyM https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/news/marvel-comic-book-writers-pay-usd-5000-special-contracts-mcu-movies-disney-billions-box-office-2506977
B.C. parent launches class-action lawsuit against makers of Fortnite video game
CTV News reports “A Vancouver parent has launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against the makers of Fortnite, saying the popular video game is designed to be “as addictive as possible” for children. The class-action lawsuit would still need approval from the court and none of the allegations have been proven in court. The plaintiff is […]
US Copyright Office: Guideline for AI-generated Works
Hi everyone,To follow up on the group presentation regarding whether AI generative work is copyrightable, I am posting that the US Copyright Office released registration guidelines on AI generative work just two days ago. In a recent case, the US Copyright Office canceled the registration of an illustration generated from prompts using the AI, stating […]
Microsoft will add AI tech to office suite programs like Word, Excel
Microsoft Corp. on Thursday trumpeted its latest plans to put artificial intelligence into the hands of more users, answering a spate of unveilings this week by its rival Google with upgrades to its own widely used office software. The technology company previewed a new AI “copilot” for Microsoft 365, its product suite that includes Word […]
Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s Monopoly over the Entertainment Industry
Hi everyone! In preparation for Zach, Stephanie and Charis’ presentation next week, please take a look at the articles below. Our presentation will focus on the recent controversies regarding Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s monopoly in the entertainment industry and what we think might happen in the pending class action lawsuits. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/25/the-live-nation-and-ticketmaster-monopoly-of-live-entertainment.html – background on Ticketmaster/Live Nation’s monopoly […]
Purrfectly defiant: Nicole Scherzinger claws back at the Pussycat Dolls in her new song ‘Freedom’
Nicole Scherzinger, a former member of the Pussycat Dolls, recently debuted her new single Freedom at a concert in Australia. Many believe she was dissing the Pussycat Dolls in some of her lyrics of this new song. These beliefs are based on some recent drama regarding the former pop band. In 2019, the Pussycat Dolls […]
GPT-4 Basically on par with lawyers now?
As I’m following the generative AI bandwagon, OpenAI has released GPT-4, which is said to be “more dependable, innovative, and equipped to manage significantly more sophisticated directives” in comparison to its previous GPT-3.5 and ChatGPT versions. Not only that, but, in a demonstration, the engineers at OpenAI noted that the enhanced version of ChatGPT had […]
Spring 2023: Class 9
Slides & video below…
Arc-teryx or Terrex? Well, You’re About to Find Out
Anyone who lives in the Kitsilano-region and frequents West 4th Ave is sure to have noticed the sudden spike in retial stores selling active-outdoor gear. With Arc-teryx having the stronghold in that area, it was interesting to see an oddly similar brand, Terrex (by Adidas), move into the brick-and-motor location just a few doors East. […]
Amazon Liable for Third-Party’s Trademark Infringement
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled that Amazon can be held liable for trademark infringement if a third-party offers goods infringing an EU trademark on its marketplace platform. The case involved a claim of infringement on Louboutin’s world-renowned red sole trademark. The CJEU considered the concept of “use” in EU […]
Google Stopping Tests that Blocked News Links for Some Canadians
Google recently announced it was stopping tests, that began February 9th, that blocked various news content for a content for under 4% of Canadians (randomly chosen). The testing was in response to Bill C-18, the Online News Act. Google described the tests as being for the purposes of testing the impact of Bill C-18, which […]
Fox News Facing Another Defamation Lawsuit
I thought this was an interesting case! Fox News is facing another defamation lawsuit and this one looks promising. The New York State Supreme Court greenlighted the lawsuit yesterday. Smartmatic USA Corp et al v Fox Corp et al, New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, 1st Department, No. 2022-01291 “The earth is round, two […]
Presentation: Dance, Copyright, and the Digital World
The availability of copyright over choreography is an area with very (very) sparse Canadian case law, although there are interesting US examples of ways that artists have protected their bodies of work such as the Balanchine Trust. We will question whether there is enough protection for this art form in law, or whether copyright law […]
Spring 2023: Class 8
Slides & video below…
RadioGPT: End to Radio Jockeys?
Article: https://www.wionews.com/technology/end-of-rjs-radiogpts-ai-generated-radio-jockeys-to-start-reading-news-570381 Hi everyone! I came across this article discussing the “future of radio”. It states that an Ohio-based media company has created RadioGPT – the “world’s first-ever radio platform powered by artificial intelligence”. The technology will scan online news sources for interesting topics, then create and read a script itself with “personalities”. It will […]
Image Rights
In preparation for Niklas & Jordan’s presentation please have a look at the following article.
Seattle schools sue tech giants over social media harm
Hey everyone! I came across this article about how the Seattle district schools tried suing several tech giants such as snapchat and Facebook over the fact that their student’s mental health has been affected by these platforms! They did not argue the platforms were responsible for what other people post on said platforms but rather […]
Spring 2023: Class 7
Slides & video below…
Paramount breaches half a billion dollar contract with Warner Bros. Studios over exclusive rights to cartoon South Park?
I found this recent article about a New York State Supreme Court case brought to the court by Warner Bros. Discovery, suing Paramount over their contract for the cartoon South Park’s exclusive rights. In 2019 Paramount and the South Park creators sold the exclusive rights to the first 23 seasons of South Park and three […]
“Never Gonna Give [the rights to my voice] Up!”
Hi everyone! In preparation for Chris and Laura’s presentation next week on voice rights, please read and watch the following article and videos about a performer’s “right of publicity” with respect to their iconic voice. Our presentation will focus on whether copyright can subsist in a person’s voice, and if so, where and when liability […]
Snapchat hops on the AI Train
This article discusses Snapchat’s new AI-powered chatbot called “My AI” (that Snapchat+ subscribers can get for $3.99/month). This is just another example of how ChatGPT is entering the commercial world. I found it interesting/kind of creepy how the CEO frames the new feature as just like any other friend/family member that you can speak to. […]
Spring 2023: Class 6
Slides & video below…Jon
Netflix settles the lawsuit it filed against Barlow & Bear for their ‘Unofficial Bridgerton Musical’
I was curious about the developments regarding the lawsuit Netflix filed against musical duo Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear last summer. When I looked it up, turns out Netflix had settled the suit by September 2022. Barlow & Bear went viral on Tik Tok in 2021 for their fan-made songs based on the hit Netflix […]
Creepy Conversations with Microsoft’s Bing AI
https://simonwillison.net/2023/Feb/15/bing/ Here’s an article containing some pretty creepy conversations with Microsoft’s Bing AI. I originally thought the generative AI technology in its current stage can merely give responses that are relatively objective and factual, but after reading this article, I found that it can also gaslight you, lie to you, and threaten you, which is […]
Get Out of My Face!: The Dangers and Future of Deepfakes
Hi everyone! In preparation for Chris and Erik’s presentation next week on deepfakes, please watch the following video outlining the development of deepfake technology. Our presentation will focus on both video and audio deepfakes, including the dangers posed by the technology and some of the legal responses that have arisen around the world to combat […]
Legal liability for Algorithmic and AI Suggestibility
Hello Everyone, Below are a few articles to check out before our (Eibadat and Corrigan) presentation next week (February 28th, 2023). We will be looking at issues around who is legally accountable for content generated by algorithms and chatbots through the lens of some recent legal actions and the controversy surrounding Terms of Service changes […]
Slides for “Love Don’t Cost a Thing?: The Reality of Dating Shows”
Here is a link to our slides for our presentation on February 14: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFag3m4cOU/V1D7NvxZ85uk3TXgLt1xgQ/view?utm_content=DAFag3m4cOU&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton Thank you to everyone for being so engaged with our presentation! And hope everyone had a great Valentines Day! Have a great reading break!
Keanu Reeves Contracts Ban Digital Editing and Thoughts on Deepfakes
Keanu Reeves had an interview published in Wired magazine yesterday. Two particular quotes that are of interest are responses to questions of his preformances getting deepfaked/digitally manipulated. Keanu, years ago you put a clause in your contracts saying that your performances couldn’t be manipulated without your say-so. Isn’t that right? Reeves: Yeah, digitally. I don’t mind […]
Slides for “Truth in Advertising in Age of Social Media Influencers” Presentation (Feb 14)
Here is the link to our slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1pPFPrFj2pwxir7I5EPv3ti9KpXspyobL8ASTTKrEDF8/edit?usp=sharing Thank you for listening and for the engaging discussion/participation! Hope everyone has a safe and relaxing reading break.
The Last of Us and the Value of “Realness”
How HBO’s The Last Of Us transformed Alberta into a zombie wasteland https://www.macleans.ca/culture/television/the-last-of-us-location-manager-on-how-hbo-transformed-alberta-into-a-zombie-wasteland/ Here’s a fun article about The Last of Us by HBO, which is referred to in the article as the “biggest production in Canadian history”.There is a lot of money spent on making things “real” instead of relying on CGI, which I […]
Links for “Love Don’t Cost a Thing: The Reality of Dating Shows” Presentation
DONT OPEN THESE LINKS UNTIL WE TELL YOU TO Activity: What do YOU think of reality dating shows? https://padlet.com/tujoanna7/your-thoughts-on-reality-dating-shows-t5enu3toaztaurnt Activity: QUIZ https://www.flexiquiz.com/SC/N/78cd20f0-e543-4e79-838b-5675c7478542
Spring 2023: Class 5
Slides & video below… Jon
New Harry Potter Video Game Sparks Controversy
An interesting article I came across today regarding the release of Hogwarts Legacy. The game is highly anticipated, but some gamers are boycotting the game over J.K. Rowling’s anti-trans comments. This is another example of fans “speaking back” to media, which we have not always been able to do. I think it also represents the […]
Netflix Password Sharing
In light of our conversation last class regarding Netflix account sharing, I thought that this update from Netflix released (~2 hours ago) was timely… Unfortunately, it looks like the end of the journey for those of us who are riding off the coattails of our family’s Netflix accounts. https://about.netflix.com/en/news/an-update-on-sharing?fbclid=IwAR0y-Gzx-pcyN2Xj0p4Hbmu0XVCRFq6jI-2NTTllu3jshBuGLc-_vDQwlOY
AI Generated ‘Seinfeld’ Parody Violates Twitch Terms of Service.
About a week ago a story about a 24/7 twitch stream caught my attention. The stream was described by its creators as a “nonsensical surreal art project”. The project was to stream a non-stop AI generated show inspired by the beloved 90s sitcom about nothing. ‘Nothing Forever’ began streaming in mid-December, featuring scripts and visuals […]
Truth in Advertising in the Age of Social Media Influencers
Happy February, everyone! For our presentation next week on February 14th (Louisa, Sigrid, Jade), please read this Times article on “Lash-gate” the latest scandal in the online beauty world that involves Mikayla Nogueira, a beauty influencer who gained popularity primarily on TikTok. Our presentation will focus on influencer marketing and advertising on social media and […]
Love Don’t Cost a Thing: The Reality of Dating Shows
Hi Everyone! In preparation for Nicole, Alexa, and Joanna’s presentation next week (on Valentines’ Day), we found a TEDxTalk that sets out the realities of dating shows, and it’s not as glamorous as one might think. Please watch the video to get an introduction to our presentation which will cover the behind-the-scenes relationship between dating […]
Spring 2023: Class 4
Slides & video below… Jon
Battling AI (ChatGPT) With More AI!
Hello everyone! I found this article about a computer science student at Princeton University, Edward Tian, who spent his holiday break in his hometown of Toronto developing an app, GPTZero, which can sniff out ChatGPT essays. As we have discussed in class, the infamous generative AI known as ChatGPT has caused an uproar within many […]
Ticketmaster Senate Hearing – Taylor Swift References
Here is a link to the Ticketmaster Senate hearing in which senators quote Taylor Swift songs and lyrics in their arguments (as mentioned in the presentation)!