By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Dean of the GIMPA Law School, Dr. Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, has called on legal experts, technologists, policymakers, and stakeholders to come together and modernise Ghana’s copyright framework to encompass Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated content.
According to him, achieving the purpose of copyrights in Ghana, that is, striking that balance between encouraging innovation and safeguarding creators’ economic interests, in the present age is a delicate undertaking.
Dr. Agyeman-Budu made the call at the maiden edition of the Professor Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah Lecture Series held at the Wisconsin International University College Faculty of Law, Accra, on Tuesday, September 5, 2023.
Speaking on the topic “Copyrights Protection in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Prospects for Ghana,” the Dean of the GIMPA Law School maintained that addressing challenges posed by AI requires not only legal amendments and enactments as proposed but should also include collaboration linking legal experts, technologists, policymakers, and stakeholders.
According to him, Ghana faces the daunting task, albeit shared with many jurisdictions across the globe, of modernising its copyright framework to encompass AI-generated content, and the country’s ability to adapt will play a crucial role in shaping a framework that aligns with its commitment to fostering creativity, knowledge dissemination, and societal progress.
“The Ghanaian legal system must be prepared to address this intricate balance, taking into account the interests of both creators and the public good,” he cautioned.
The Dean of the GIMPA Law School is, therefore, proposing the establishment of a framework that grants limited rights to AI-generated content while ensuring that the foundational and traditional principles of copyright law remain intact.
This approach, in his view, would recognise the role of AI tools as facilitators of creativity while acknowledging the value of human creativity as the foundation of artistic expression.
Addressing the gathering, President of the WISCONSIN International University College, Professor Obeng Mireku, explained that the Lecture Series, an initiative of the College’s Law Faculty named after one of Ghana’s legal luminaries, Professor Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, is to pay tribute to his impactful contributions in the field of law, which have been nothing short of extraordinary.
“His unwavering dedication, profound knowledge, and relentless pursuit of excellence in the academic project as well as the Supreme Court jurisprudence have left an indelible mark on the legal profession in Ghana and beyond,” he added.
This lecture series, according to him, provides a platform for legal scholars, legal practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to come together and engage in a meaningful dialogue about the contemporary challenges and opportunities that shape the legal landscape in our beloved nation, Ghana.
“It is through such intellectual discourse that we can collectively navigate the complex interface of law and technology, ensuring that our contemporary legal frameworks remain relevant and resilient in this rapidly evolving era.
Artificial Intelligence presents both opportunities and complexities, and it is our duty to ensure that Ghanaian legal education as well as the administration of justice adapt to these changes, fostering innovation while safeguarding the rights of creators and users alike. Throughout this lecture series, we will also examine how AI tools impact the creation, distribution, and protection of intellectual property, and we seek to identify innovative solutions that can propel Ghana’s legal landscape forward.
It is through collaboration and collective effort that we can shape a legal landscape that is responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking. Together, let us embark on this intellectual journey, as we strive to navigate the challenges and embrace the prospects of copyright law in the age of Artificial Intelligence,” Professor Mireku reiterated.
