No odd questions
Who owns the copyright in AI-generated materials?
The short answer: it depends on where you are.
In places like the United States, works made entirely by AI with zero human input usually can’t be protected by copyright. A famous example is Steven Thaler v. US Copyright Office, where the courts confirmed only human-created works qualify. That said, if a human shapes the process by directing, editing, or arranging the AI’s output, that part can be protected.
New Zealand takes a different view. Here, the Copyright Act 1994 recognises computer-generated works. The “author” is considered to be the person who made the arrangements necessary to create it, which in our world means the one steering the prompts, curating outputs, and making creative calls.
At Odd.global, there is always a human at the wheel. We design the prompts, guide the creative direction, refine the outputs, and hand over rights to you in line with our agreement so you have full control over how the work is used.
Could the output infringe someone else’s IP?
In theory, yes. If prompted the wrong way, AI could generate something that looks a lot like an existing copyrighted work, logo, or character. That is why we avoid it from the start by using platforms we have full commercial rights for and prompts that steer clear of protected material.
If a project calls for specific existing IP, it is up to you as the client to secure the rights before we deliver or publish. We can help with the process if needed, but clearance is essential.
And honestly, most of what we make does not even get near this territory. Our work is original by design. We are not copying artists or recreating famous works. We are making something new, with our creative heads screwed on straight.
How to not infringe on others’ IP with AI generated content?
We apply a clear, defined process to minimise IP risk while achieving the creative goals of the project:
1. Licensed platform use
We only work with AI tools and platforms where we have full commercial rights to use and monetise the outputs.
2. Controlled prompting
We design prompts carefully to avoid generating content that could replicate identifiable third-party works, trademarks, or characters without permission.
3. Post-production refinement
We actively modify and refine AI outputs to ensure they meet creative objectives and are distinct from any existing protected works.
4. Rights clearance
In works that require third-party IP, it is the client’s responsibility to secure the necessary permissions for references, likenesses, or IP they request to be generated. If specific clearances are required for the final deliverables, we can assist in that process as part of the production scope.
And on the other side of the equation, most of our day-to-day projects involve straightforward, original creative work. We are not replicating artists’ styles or copying known works. The right intention goes a long way.
What about faces and voices?
Fully AI-generated – We keep records showing it is 100% fictional with no link to any real person.
Real likeness or voice – If you want to use someone specific, you will need the rights or a release. We will also keep a record of that approval.
The responsibility for securing those rights sits with you. We make sure whatever we deliver is clear, documented, and ready to use, whether it is a character we invent from scratch or a licensed real-world likeness.
Can you ensure that the models being used are trained on licensed data?
Not by default. We do not audit AI model training data ourselves. We work with a variety of platforms and rely on the commercial terms and assurances provided by those companies.
If a project requires it, we can select tools that publicly confirm their training data is licensed or otherwise rights-cleared. This is an area where more and more providers are disclosing their datasets or committing to licensed sources, and the landscape is moving quickly.
Our main focus is on the output. We control what we generate so it does not infringe on copyright, using prompts and creative direction that keep our work original and safe to use.