The Law of Artificial Intelligence

At the beginning of 2021, we published the first German edition of this brochure. And we were certain: Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is one of the major issues of the future for our society and economy – and thus also highly relevant from a legal perspective. 

However, the speed of developments in recent months has surprised us. There is hardly a medium that has not reported in one form or another – and the current possibilities are being tested in schools just as much as in companies. Meanwhile, the third edition of the German broschure is available and we decided to publish it in English language as well.

The aim of this brochure is to provide a brief overview of the current legal situation and the state of the discussion. A brief presentation such as this cannot claim to be complete in terms of breadth and depth.

In addition, we venture an outlook on future developments and possible adaptations of the legal framework with regard to the advancing automation of AI and robotic systems. We are particularly interested in questions concerning the protectability of works created by AI on the one hand and questions of liability on the other – up to and including the not only provocative question of whether artificial intelligences should be holders of rights, perhaps even be given a legal personality. Here, too, we can and will only provide food for thought and discussion in a work of limited scope.

The German version has been published in summer 2024. This is an English translation for which some of the chapters have been updated.

Dr. Andreas Lober
Susanne Klein