Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright : Introduction

This free University of Strathclyde library guide by Deborah Ferns helps staff and students work through the copyright questions generative AI raises, so they can judge whether copyright exists in AI output, who owns it, and what a tool's terms and conditions say about ownership and the reuse of prompts. Its sections take readers through using third-party owned material to train AI tools or as prompt input, the copyright exceptions that may apply, and how to reference AI use and avoid plagiarism in coursework and assessment. It also covers the ethics and limitations of these tools, including bias and false citations, and points to where to get further help.

Task

Ethics & compliance

Time

15 minutes

Level

intermediate

Cost

Free — Nothing to pay. A free account at most.

Tools

None in particular

Published

2026-06-30