Who owns the IP rights to the AI-assisted code of an IT company?
Coding with AI is a must – it affects IP

Background
IP regulation in AI
In Ukraine, original works created with the use of human creativity (e.g., manually written code) are protected by copyright. However, AI-assisted objects are protected by a special kind of law (sui generis) and are not considered to be objects of copyright.
In the U.S., code created solely by AI is not protected by copyright. In the U.K., the copyright for AI-assisted code may belong to the person who arranged its creation (created and sent a prompt). In the EU, the AI Act does not explain who owns the rights to works created by AI.
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Regulation varies in different jurisdictions01
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AI Terms of Use
The Terms of Use of AI tools such as GitHub Copilot, OpenAI, and Tabnine define who owns the IP rights to the generated code02 -
Commercialisation of AI code
Commercial use of AI content in an IT product may require the purchase of a paid subscription to an AI service03 -
Creative input
If the role of an IT developer is limited to “clicking a button” on an AI service, the code is not considered copyrighted. In Ukraine, it can be protected as a sui generis object04
Insights
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Terms of use are essential
AI tools may not necessarily transfer IP rights to the generated code. For example, Tabnine reserves the IP rights to the “suggestions” that the AI tool provides to the user during coding. However, the user receives a license from Tabnine to use it. -
Lack of control is a big concern
If an IT company fails to define which AI tools can be used in developing code for its own products or those of its customers, it can lead to intellectual property issues. -
Documentation is supposed to work
Declarative "prohibitions" or over-detailing are likely to lead to a lack of genuine implementation and, consequently, a lack of control.
What should be covered today?
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Review the Terms of Use of AI tools
Before using AI, make sure that the service transfers content rights to you -
Revise contracts with customers
Transparent practices of using AI-assisted code should be clear to the customer -
Follow the commercialization provisions
Acquire paid subscriptions if they are required for commercial use -
Develop AI-IP documentation
Contracts with all involved coders and relevant internal policies are essential.
Отримання IP-прав на ШІ-код залежить від умов Terms of use ШІ-сервісів

еволюція прав на ШІ-код – еволюція прав на ШІ-код – еволюція прав на ШІ-код – еволюція прав на ШІ-код –
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01
2014
Запуск Kite, одного з перших ШІ-асистентів для кодування, питання IP-прав ще не обговорювалося активно -
02
2021
Зростання популярності ШІ-асистентів, запуск GitHub Copilot, старт дискусій про IP права на ШІ-код -
03
2023
81% розробників використовують ШІ, ІТ-компанії починають стикатися з юридичними викликами -
04
2025
ІТ-компанії адаптують власні IP-політики для ШІ-кодування і розробляють стратегії -
05
2030?
Можливе детальне регулювання в законодавстві ЄС питання IP-прав на контент, що згенерований ШІ
ІТ-компаніям потрібно мати регулювання щодо ШІ в контексті IP
Актуальні та практичні статті по темі
- Data protection officer
- AI compliance officer
- Data privacy compliance
- Дія.City
- Digital Millennium copyright Act
- Торгова марка в IT
Пишемо про те, що практикуємо
IP, GDPR, контракти та спори, а також про правові аспекти імплементації таких технологій, як штучний інтелект чи кращі практики реалізації конкретних юридичних рішень.