Is It LEGAL to SELL AI Generated Art on Etsy, RedBubble, Society6 & Other Marketplaces?
TLDRThe video discusses the legality of selling AI-generated art on various online marketplaces such as Redbubble, Society6, and Etsy. The creator expresses confusion over the lack of clear policies and the mixed information available online. They share their journey of reaching out to multiple platforms to get definitive answers. Some platforms responded positively, allowing AI art as long as it does not infringe on copyrights or trademarks, while others provided no clear answer or stated that the responsibility lies with the artist to ensure they have the rights to the content. The video emphasizes the importance of checking the terms of service for both the AI art generator and the marketplace to avoid legal issues.
Takeaways
- 🚫 **Legality vs. Copyright Infringement**: The legality of selling AI-generated art on platforms is separate from copyright infringement issues.
- 🤔 **Marketplace Policies**: Many online marketplaces do not explicitly mention AI-generated art in their terms of service, leading to confusion.
- 📄 **Stock Photography Restrictions**: Even if a photo is legally purchased for commercial use, it may not be allowed for print-on-demand products on certain platforms like Etsy.
- 💡 **Research Effort**: The video creator contacted multiple marketplaces to clarify their stance on AI-generated art, highlighting the lack of clear information.
- ✅ **Spreadshirt Approval**: Spreadshirt allows AI art as long as it complies with their marketplace and community guidelines, emphasizing quality for printing.
- 🔍 **TeePublic Ambiguity**: TeePublic's response lacked clarity regarding the legality of selling AI art on their platform.
- 🤖 **DisplayDin Confusion**: DisplayDin's automated chat led to a frustratingly unproductive exchange before eventually stating that artists must own all intellectual property rights to submitted designs.
- 🎨 **Zazzle's Stance**: Zazzle permits AI-generated content as long as it is tagged as 'generative content' and adheres to their content guidelines.
- 🚫 **Society6 Surprise**: Contrary to expectations, Society6 allows AI-generated artwork, provided the artist has the rights to the AI-created content.
- 📈 **Redbubble's Evasion**: Redbubble did not provide a clear answer regarding the legality of AI art, suggesting artists take responsibility for their products.
- 🛍️ **Etsy's Indirect Approval**: Etsy allows the sale of AI-generated art as long as the artist has the right to use the image, pending further investigation by their team.
Q & A
Is it legal to sell AI-generated art on various online marketplaces?
-The legality of selling AI-generated art varies by platform. Some marketplaces like Spreadshirt and Threadless allow it, while others like Tpublic do not provide clear answers. It's crucial to check each platform's terms of service and ensure that the AI art does not infringe on any copyrights or trademarks.
What is the stance of Redbubble on selling AI-generated art?
-Redbubble does not provide a clear stance in their terms of service regarding AI-generated art. However, they emphasize that artists are solely responsible for the products in their shop and must own the intellectual property rights or have permission to display, produce, and sell products on the marketplace.
How does Society6 approach the sale of AI-generated artwork?
-Surprisingly, Society6 allows artists to upload and sell AI-generated artwork as long as they have the rights to the content created by the AI. This is despite their reputation for focusing on 'true artists'.
What are the content guidelines for AI-generated content on Zazzle?
-Zazzle allows the use of AI-generated content as part of the final composition, as long as it is appropriately tagged as 'generative content'. They also require that designs adhere to their quality standards and do not knowingly copy from any existing design.
What steps did the video creator take to get accurate information about selling AI art on various platforms?
-The video creator contacted multiple marketplaces through various means including Instagram, Facebook, and email. They also checked each platform's terms of service and FAQ sections, and researched the policies of AI art generators regarding commercial use.
Why is it important to consider the quality of AI-generated art when selling on platforms like Spreadshirt?
-Spreadshirt emphasizes that while they do not have an issue with AI art, the quality of the designs must be good enough for printing. Low-resolution images that are simply enlarged can result in poor print quality, which is not acceptable.
What is the significance of checking the terms of service of the AI art generator tool?
-The terms of service of the AI art generator tool may restrict the use of generated art to personal use only. To sell AI-generated art commercially, the tool's terms must permit commercial use. This is important to avoid copyright infringement.
What advice does the video creator have for artists looking to sell AI-generated art?
-The video creator advises against uploading a large volume of AI-generated art with the expectation that it will sell on its own. Instead, artists should focus on marketing, developing a unique style, and finding a niche. They also recommend using AI-generated content as part of a design, rather than as the entirety of the product.
What is the video creator's perspective on the moral implications of using AI-generated art?
-The video creator does not take a definitive stance on the moral implications, acknowledging that opinions on whether AI art is 'real art' vary. They draw parallels to past technological advancements in art, suggesting that such debates are not new.
Why did the video creator find it surprising that some companies did not have clear policies regarding AI-generated art?
-The video creator expected that by the time of their inquiry, companies would have established policies regarding AI-generated art, given its presence in the market for over a year. The lack of clear policies from some companies suggests that they may be avoiding restrictions that could limit potential sales.
What is the video creator's final recommendation for artists considering the use of AI in their work?
-The video creator recommends that artists use AI-generated content as a starting point, inspiration, or part of a larger design, rather than relying solely on AI to produce their work. They also suggest that artists spend more time on marketing and developing a unique style to increase the chances of their work selling.
Outlines
🤔 The Legitimacy of Selling AI Art on Marketplaces
The video script questions the legitimacy, sustainability, and legality of selling AI-generated art on various online marketplaces. It emphasizes the need to understand if it's allowed and how it aligns with different platforms' terms of service. The speaker clarifies that the discussion is not about copyright infringement but rather about the platforms' permission to sell AI art. The script also highlights the confusion in the information available online and the speaker's efforts to get clear answers by contacting multiple marketplaces.
🔍 Researching the Legality of AI Art Sales
The speaker details their process of researching the legality of selling AI art on platforms like Redbubble, Society66, and others. They mention the lack of clear information in articles and the need to check each platform's terms of service. The script describes the steps taken to contact these platforms, including using social media and email, to get definitive answers. It also addresses the importance of considering copyright infringement and trademark issues separately from the legality of selling AI art.
📄 Terms of Service and AI Art
The video script discusses the importance of understanding the terms of service when selling AI-generated art. It points out that having the right to display or use a photo commercially does not necessarily mean it can be used on all platforms, as illustrated by the example of stock photography on Etsy. The speaker shares their journey of contacting multiple marketplaces to ask about the legality of selling AI art and emphasizes the need to consider each platform's stance on AI-generated content.
🤝 Responses from Various Marketplaces
The speaker recounts the responses received from different platforms regarding the sale of AI-generated art. Some platforms, like Spreadshirt, provided clear affirmation that AI art can be sold as long as it complies with their guidelines. Others, like T-public, did not give a direct answer to the legality of AI art sales. The script also mentions the importance of checking the terms of service of the AI art generator tool itself, as some may restrict commercial use.
🚫 Navigating the Grey Areas of AI Art Sales
The video script explores the grey areas surrounding the sale of AI art, particularly the lack of clear policies from companies. It details the frustration of receiving non-answers or responses that don't address the question asked. The speaker expresses surprise at platforms that either don't have policies in place or are evasive in their responses. The script also touches on the potential reasons why companies may not want to establish clear policies, suggesting it may be to avoid limiting what can be sold on their platforms.
🎨 Advice on Using AI Art in Design
The speaker offers advice on the use of AI-generated content, recommending that it be used as a starting point or part of a design rather than as the entire product. They suggest that simply uploading AI art to a platform is unlikely to result in sales without a cohesive style or niche. The script encourages viewers to spend more time on marketing and developing a unique artistic approach that incorporates AI-generated content in a meaningful way.
📚 Final Thoughts on AI Art and Its Impact
The video script concludes with final thoughts on the use of AI art, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of how it's integrated into the creative process. The speaker reflects on the potential moral implications and the impact on traditional artists, drawing parallels with previous technological advancements in art and design. They also mention their intention to create a comprehensive video on the various ways they use AI tools in their work.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡AI Generated Art
💡Redbubble
💡Etsy
💡Copyright Infringement
💡Intellectual Property Rights
💡Terms of Service
💡Society6
💡Print on Demand (POD)
💡Marketplace Guidelines
💡Digital Downloads
💡AI Art Generator
Highlights
The legality of selling AI-generated art on various platforms is a topic of confusion and contradiction.
Many online platforms do not explicitly address the sale of AI art in their terms of service.
The video aims to clarify whether selling AI art on marketplaces like Redbubble, Society6, and Etsy is allowed.
The distinction between legality and copyright infringement is important when discussing AI art sales.
Stock photography purchased for commercial use may not be allowed for print on demand products on certain platforms like Etsy.
The presenter contacted multiple marketplaces to inquire about the legality of selling AI-generated art.
Spreadshirt responded positively, allowing AI art as long as it complies with their guidelines.
Teepublic provided a vague response, not clearly addressing the legality of AI art on their platform.
Society6 surprisingly allows AI-generated artwork, provided the artist has the rights to the AI-created content.
Threadless features shops using AI art, indicating that they permit its sale on their platform.
Redbubble did not provide a clear answer regarding the legality of AI art, suggesting artists take responsibility for their content.
Imprint and Zazzle have specific guidelines about AI art, with Zazzle requiring a tag for generative content.
Creative Fabrica allows AI art to be sold on their platform as long as it's uploaded in the designated AI category.
Etsy's stance on AI art is unclear, but an initial response suggests it may not be prohibited.
Amazon's Merge platform has not provided a clear answer regarding AI art sales.
The presenter suggests using AI-generated content as part of a design, rather than as the entire product.
AI art generators may have their own terms of service that restrict commercial use.
The presenter criticizes companies for not having clear policies regarding AI art sales and questions their motivations.
The video concludes with a recommendation to use AI art as inspiration, not as a standalone product for sale.