Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA) has said Malawi’s Copyright Act does not protect works created solely using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
While citing Section 3 of the Copyright Act of 2016, COSOMA Executive Director Dora Makwinja said the law only recognizes and protects works created by human beings.
“The Copyright law is very clear. There is no protection granted to AI-generated works. The law only recognizes and protects works that are created by human beings. Therefore, COSOMA does not protect AI-generated works,” she said.
This comes after the Maso Awards Board announced that AI-generated music and AI-generated artists will not be eligible for nomination or recognition until further notice.
In a statement issued yesterday, the board said while artificial intelligence is transforming the creative industry and is “here to stay”, it should be used to enhance human creativity rather than replace it.
“Artists are encouraged to embrace AI as a creative tool while preserving the authenticity, originality and human expression that define great art. We remain committed to celebrating authentic human creativity while encouraging the responsible and ethical use of AI in the arts. This position will be reviewed periodically as technology and industry standards continue to evolve,” reads part of the statement.
The position has received support from several players in the entertainment industry.
Award-winning gospel musician Steve Wazisomo Muliya said although technological advancements should be embraced, they should complement rather than replace human creativity.
“Indeed, we should accept the change, but that change must never come at the expense of human creativity,” he said.
Dancehall musician and entertainment journalist Blak Jack agreed, warning that unrestricted use of AI could undermine genuine talent.
“As Malawi, I really don’t think we are ready for this. People are going to abuse the tools to the extent of overshadowing natural talent. I believe talent comes naturally and it has to be rewarded in its natural form,” he said.
Hip-hop artist Phyzix also described the Maso Awards’ position as fair, saying award schemes are meant to recognise human artistry, emotion, lived experiences and originality.
“If AI is only assisting the creative process while the artist remains the primary creator, that’s different from AI generating the entire song or artist. As the technology evolves, the rules will also need to evolve, but protecting authentic creativity is a reasonable starting point,” he said.
