US Bipartisan CREATOR Act Targets AI Style Theft

A group of bipartisan lawmakers in the US Congress has proposed the CREATOR Act (Creative Rights for Artists’ Technique and Originality Are Reserved Act), which would grant visual artists a federal right to protect their distinctive style from unauthorized imitation by AI. Current copyright law covers individual artworks but not an artist's overall style. The bill would allow artists to sue companies and individuals who deliberately copy their recognizable visual characteristics for profit, and to take action against AI platforms enabling such replication. The legislation defines protectable elements as "distinctive visual characteristics" and "identifiable visual elements" consistently appearing in publicly distributed work. Critics note enforcement challenges, as style can be subjective and well-funded corporations may contest claims. Adobe has publicly endorsed the bill, urging Congress to advance it. The proposal follows incidents like the mass replication of Studio Ghibli's animation style via AI, which prompted Japanese lawmakers to consider similar measures.