I don't think training a model with copyrighted data is any kind of gray zone at all.

Running inference against such a model _might_ be infringing.

But I don't see the legal argument that model training would be.

Think of model training as lossy data compression. You provide an input, it produces a compressed artifact, and it can no longer reproduce the original when you uncompress it. It can produce _something_. It cannot reproduce the original.

On slashdot, we all agree that format shifting copyrighted works should be allowed and unrestricted, right?

If there is applicable case law here about how lossy a "reproduction" can be before copyright has something to say about it, that would be relevant. Do you know of any?

I think you're repeating something that feels emotionally valid but in my experience, isn't factually (or legally) accurate.

I have found AI models to be frustratingly _obedient_ of copyright.

I'll be in a situation where I ask a specific question about what a document says, and the AI repeatedly says the work is copyrighted and it can't just tell me what it says _verbatim_, but it can answer specific questions for me in its own words (while telling me to check the original).

Two examples from my life are procedural questions about what Roberts Rules of Order would require in a given situation, and, what ASD STE-100 says about how to name/word things.

The applicable US law would appear to be USC 17 Sec 106 and 107, which on one hand limits derivative works, but on the other, allows fair use for purposes of teaching, scholarship, or research.

(USC references provided by AI, btw. Which I haven't read)

I used to agree with you, and then oddly enough, about 25-30 years ago, I came across this signature on another regular slashdot posters postings:

"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

(AI tells me the attribution is "The Red Lily", Anatole France, 1894)

" an angry person following and harassing someone" - Didn't happen, it was a calm and rational news reporter. You Crossburning Treasonfucking IncestShit GOP KlanBitchtards just lie all day huh?

Do us all a favor DMB, end your life since you're a subhuman Incest-Produced Crossburning GOP Trashfuck.

A Klan Member in the neighborhood is dangerous. DMB should be removed from society since he's a Trashfucking America-hating Bitchboy KLAN TERRORIST SHITBAG.

The Technician is a Bitchboy for a fascist company. Fuck that.

He was harassed and SWATted and the Flock KlanBitchboy made a FALSE POLICE REPORT with ABUSE OF THE 911 SYSTEM both of which are actual crimes.

DMB is a Klanfucking Incest Produced Treason Ass RETARD who hates America and has never read the Constitution. Deport yourself or Cobain yourself, DMB, you Wortless Subhuman America Hating Klan Bitch Treason Cunt.

First Amendment: "...or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."

Freedom of the Press IS a higher protection, despite what America Hating RetardedKlan GOP Treason Bitch Cunts like the barely-human Treason Cunt DMB like to lie.

Get out of my country, DMB, you America Hating Incest Produced Retarded Fucking Klan Treason Cunt. You don't deserve to be here, you worthless traitor to everything our country stands for!

The more First Amendment Hating RetardedKlan GOP Inbred lies, the more we see through him. Hey DMB, suck on a shotgun, you Constitution Hating Worthless Little TREASON BITCH.

I'll remember that. You Terrrorist First-Amendment-hating GOP RetardedKlan IncestShits all deserve to be tracked and preferably deported.

The GOP are a Party Of Treasonous Barely Human Incest-Produced Retards.

Well, Retarded Incest Shits like "dmb" are definitely Klan Cunt Manbabies.

KlanBitchRetard Paxton already declined. So, that's a thing that happened, and now the Treason Bitch Retardicans are whining because they're Pathetic America Hating KlanBitch Losers.

No he didn't, you Retardican Lying Klan Bitchboy.

You're a liar. KuKluxKen Paxton the Criminal Who Cheated On His Wife has already refused the offer to appear. Trump and the KlanBitch Retardicans are now threatening Kimmel anyways because that's what those America Hating GOPdfile TreasonCunts do.