Valve Scrutinizes Games with AI Assets on Steam
Valve is closely examining games with AI assets on its distribution platform, Steam. As the use of AI becomes more common, there might be additional barriers and scrutiny in place. Valve places the onus on developers to ensure that they have the necessary rights to include AI-generated content in their games. This is crucial for Valve as a large distribution platform, as mishandling AI copyright issues could lead to significant liabilities.
An anonymous developer recently shared their experience on Reddit after their AI-generated game was rejected by Valve. They received an email notifying them that their game contained AI-generated art assets that relied on copyrighted material owned by third parties.
“Our automated review system detected content in your submission that we cannot distribute on Steam due to copyright concerns,” the email read. “Specifically, your submission contains AI-generated art assets that rely on copyrighted material owned by third parties.”
Valve clarified that it doesn't have an issue with generative tools but takes copyright concerns seriously. The developer mentioned that they were unaware that the game had been trained using copyrighted images and promptly removed the content from their submission.
Despite making manual improvements to the assets, the game was still rejected. Valve explained that there isn't a standard approach to AI-generated games yet, and some games that mention the use of AI are already available on the platform.
“However, our process reflects current copyright law and policies, not our personal opinion,” Valve stated. “We acknowledge the legal uncertainty surrounding the use of data to train AI models, and we're working on integrating AI into our review policies as the technology evolves and laws/policies change.”
While the developer's account doesn't directly confirm the legitimacy of their rejection, their statements align with Valve's stance. The use of AI models trained on datasets containing copyrighted material remains a legal gray area. Companies involved in AI development often refrain from disclosing the specifics of their datasets.
A case worth noting is Getty's lawsuit against Stability AI, which alleges unauthorized use of over 12 million images. This lawsuit may set a precedent in AI copyright cases. As a large distribution platform like Steam, Valve faces significant potential liabilities if it mishandles AI copyright issues.
Although there are currently games on Steam that incorporate AI, these may be exceptions. As the adoption of AI continues to grow, it is likely that more barriers and scrutiny will emerge. The outcome of AI copyright cases in the US remains uncertain and could have substantial financial implications.
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