Copyright and AI: Who Really Owns Your AI-Generated Content?

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You’ve probably done it already—used ChatGPT to draft copy, asked Midjourney or DALL·E to generate an image, or got code snippets from an AI tool to plug into your product. Feels like magic. But here’s the question most founders aren’t asking:

Who actually owns that content?

The short answer: not you—at least, not in the way you think.

AI Can’t Hold Copyright (And That Changes Everything)

Let’s get one thing straight: under UK law (and in most countries), copyright must be held by a human. AI is not a legal person. So anything created entirely by AI—without meaningful human input—isn’t protected by copyright.

That means:

  • You can’t stop others from copying it.

  • You might not be able to claim it as IP in your pitch deck.

  • It could be worthless in a future due diligence process.

🚫 If no one owns it, no one can enforce it. That might sound freeing, but in a startup world where intellectual property equals value, it’s a red flag.

So What About Me? I Typed the Prompt!

Good question. If you’re giving substantial creative input, there’s an argument you’ve shaped the final output enough to claim some rights. But it’s not bulletproof.

Example:

  • Typing “Generate a startup pitch deck for a B2B SaaS tool that helps remote teams” is not enough.

  • But iterating on the content, editing the results, and combining them with your own input might create something original enough to protect.

It’s all about human authorship. If your final asset is just a slightly edited AI output—your ownership claim is weak.

What This Means for Founders

1. Be careful with branding, content, and code.

If your brand visuals, pitch deck, or even product code is AI-generated, document how it was created. Investors may ask.

2. Don’t assume exclusivity.

Someone else could generate something very similar with a similar prompt. If you’re relying on AI for logos or taglines, think twice.

3. AI is a co-pilot, not a creator.

Use AI to accelerate your work—not replace the original thinking behind it. Combine AI outputs with human creativity to ensure the end result is protectable.

4. Your team needs to know this.

Designers, marketers, developers using AI tools? Make sure they understand what’s at stake. You don’t want to find out in due diligence that you don’t own your own brand assets.

Final Thought: IP Still Matters, Even in an AI World

AI can help you move faster—but it doesn’t replace the legal reality. If you want to build something valuable, especially for investors or future acquirers, make sure you actually own what you’re building.

Because if it’s not yours, it might not be worth much.

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RARE FOUNDERS EVENTS🔥

Rare Founders

TOP 100 - Pitch Practice

​We’re hosting an online pitch training session to help TOP 100 founders sharpen your pitch ahead of Demo Day on 25th April. Join and learn from their live pitching and feedback.

In-person event

Fri 4 Apr, 9:00 - 10:00 BST

Rare Founders

London’s Largest Demo Day

100 pre-selected founders will get on stage to pitch to the audience of hundreds of investors. Join 30+ founders who secured funding at the last demo day in Oct.

Tickets to attend are FREE. Join the waitlist here.

In-person event

1 Wimpole Street, Westminster, London, W1G 0AE, UK

Fri 25 Apr, 9:00 - 17:00 BST

OTHER LONDON EVENTS🌟

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Thu 3 Apr, 08:30 - 10:00 BST

Showcase: Financial Modelling

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Hiring For Startups and Scaleups

Join this session to explore key hiring strategies for start-ups and scale-ups, highlighting unique challenges, best practices, and tools for attracting talent at different growth stages. It covers identifying the right candidates, leveraging AI for recruitment, crafting an Employee Value Proposition, and maintaining company values during expansion.

Online event

Fri 4 Apr, 16:00 - 16:45 BST

Running Club : London

A community of founders, investors, and startup enthusiasts gathers for weekly casual runs, fostering connections in a relaxed setting. Participants can run at their own pace, join a pacer, and enjoy post-run coffee and conversations.

In-person event

The Broad Walk, London, NW1 4NP, UK

Sat 5 Apr, 9:30 - 11:00 BST

PR Power Hour: Building Your Brand as a Female Founder (or Operator) - Featuring Insights from Leading Media Voices

A hands-on workshop designed to help female founders amplify their voices and connect with key audiences through effective PR strategies. Attendees will gain practical tools for securing media coverage, crafting compelling stories, and building relationships with journalists, all while networking with like-minded entrepreneurs.

In-person event

Adam St Area, London, UK

Wed 9 Apr, 18:30 - 20:00 BST

April Run: 5k

Join a monthly 5K run bringing together the startup community, followed by drinks at XXX. This edition supports KOLO, a nonprofit aiding Ukrainian defenders with technological advantages.

In-person event

4 Grotto Passage, London, W1U 4JX, UK

Wed 9 Apr, 17:30 - 20:00 BST

Demo Night London

Demo Night London is a space for founders to showcase their work, gain valuable feedback, and connect with a supportive community—without the pressure of pitching. Designed to prevent startups from building things nobody wants, it rotates across various venues and fosters innovation through open discussion and collaboration.

In-person event

Lamb's Passage Area, London, UK

Wed 9 Apr, 18:00 - 20:00 BST

How Peer Groups Drive Faster Growth And Smarter Decisions

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Online event

Wed 9 Apr, 19:00 - 19:30 BST

AI In Action: Scaling & Securing Data In Regulated Industry

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In-person event

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Thu 10 Apr, 15:00 - 18:00 BST

Alternative Investment Drinks

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In-person event

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Thu 10 Apr, 18:00 - 20:00 BST

Founders Meetup

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In-person event

30 Engate St, London SE13 7HA, UK

Thu 10 Apr, 18:00 - 21:00 BST

How To Use AI To Assist With Grant Applications

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Online event

Thu 10 Apr, 21:00 - 21:30 BST

Estonia’s Unicorn Playground

The Estonia 2025 Programme offers an immersive, people-first experience for founders and startup leaders, focused on fast-tracking growth and delivering tangible outcomes. Participants will connect with experts and sharp minds in one of the most digitally advanced societies in the world, leveraging Estonia's unique startup ecosystem and e-Residency benefits to scale faster.

In-person event

18-24 May, Central Tallinn

Deadline To Apply: Friday 4 April, 17:00 GMT

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Vasily Alekseenko
Founder
@ Rare Founders

Rare Founders - building the bridge between founders and investors via regular in-person and online events, meetups, conferences.

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