The U.S. Copyright Office just released Part 1 of its Copyright & AI report that focuses on digital replicas.

Copyright and Artificial Intelligence – Part 1: Digital Replicas is the first of “several” reports that the USCO will be releasing before the end of the year. But, the Office is already behind its initially announced released schedule.

“Given the gaps in existing legal protections, the Office recommends that Congress enact a new federal law that protects all individuals from the knowing distribution of unauthorized digital replicas,” the press release explains. “The Office also offers recommendations on the elements to be included in crafting such a law.”

Notably, the USCO is expanding its focus on digital replicas to private citizens, as opposed to more narrowly tailored legislation we’ve seen that focuses on celebrities or politicians.

“We believe there is an urgent need for effective nationwide protection against the harms that can be caused to reputations and livelihoods,” said Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office. “We look forward to working with Congress as they consider our recommendations and evaluate future developments.”

This particular report was supposed to be published in the spring with a second report coming during the summer that touches on the copyrightability of works incorporating AI-generated material.

Future reports (parts 3+) are, according to the USCO, planned to address topics such as model training, licensing issues, and liability concerns. The goal for the Office is to have them out by the end of the fiscal year (which falls on September 30, 2024).

Read and download the full report below.