Copyright Law and the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Academic Works in the Thai Higher Educational Institutions

Abstract

The article considers the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in academic writing, which may involve using the work of others without proper acknowledgement of the authors and information sources, or the use of non-existent information, thereby affecting academic integrity and ethics. It found that resolving issues related to copyright infringement through AI requires amendments to the Thai Copyright Act 1994. First, such amendment should ensure that the use of AI to reproduce or modify copyright works must first obtain authorization from the author or copyright owner. Second, such amendment should ensure that if AI is used to create a work without elements of human authorship, it would not be eligible for copyright protection, but if AI is used merely as a tool, with the author applying their own effort, skill, and labor in the creative process, then such work could be eligible for copyright protection and copyright would be owned by the human author. Third, the requirement of sufficient acknowledgement of the authors and information sources must be inserted into the copyright exceptions in paragraph two (1) (6) and (7) of section 32 of the CA 1994. Additionally, higher education institutions should formulate guidelines on the use of AI for lecturers, researchers, academics, and students, which also requires proper acknowledgement of the authors and sources.