As I prepare to speak at the YOU X AI conference in Waco, Texas, I’ve been reflecting on how deeply artificial intelligence has become woven into my everyday life as a creator, storyteller, and publisher. While AI may feel like a new conversation for many, it’s one I’ve been navigating for years, especially as questions continue to surface about how to use it effectively and what risks creators should be mindful of. Today, a growing number of creators are integrating AI into their workflows to support their creative process. As the technology evolves, so does the responsibility to approach it with both curiosity and discernment.

Here are four of the biggest copyright “don’ts” that authors, entrepreneurs, designers, and content creators should understand.

1. Don’t Copy Someone Else’s Protected Content

This is the most straightforward rule.

You cannot ask AI to rewrite or reproduce someone else’s copyrighted work and then publish it as your own.

Examples include:

• Copying paragraphs from a book
• Rewriting an article while keeping the same structure and ideas
• Using someone else’s song lyrics
• Publishing another person’s poem or blog post without permission

If you quote someone, you must do so legally and appropriately, following copyright rules and proper attribution where applicable. AI doesn’t make plagiarism legal—it can simply make it happen faster. 

2. Don’t Use Someone Else’s Artwork, Photos, or Designs as Your Own

This is where many creators accidentally get into trouble.

You cannot:

• Upload another artist’s illustration and sell it on a T-shirt.
• Use someone else’s photography in your book cover without a license.
• Generate an AI image that is essentially a copy of an existing copyrighted image or character.

Being inspired by an artistic style is different from copying a protected work.

For example:

• “Create a watercolor landscape” is generally different from
• “Make this look exactly like this copyrighted Disney poster.”

The closer your work is to someone else’s protected expression, the greater your legal risk. 

3. Don’t Assume AI Output Automatically Belongs to You

Many people are surprised by this one.

Current U.S. Copyright Office guidance says that copyright protects human creativity—not purely AI-generated content.

If AI creates something with little or no meaningful human creative contribution, that content may not qualify for copyright protection.

However, if you:

• significantly edit,
• arrange,
• rewrite,
• illustrate,
• or creatively transform AI-generated material,

your human contributions may qualify for copyright protection. In other words, AI works best as a creative assistant—not as the sole creator. 

4. Don’t Confuse Copyright with Trademarks or Publicity Rights

Even if AI creates something “new,” you still can’t use protected brands or people’s identities without permission.

Examples:

• Creating a Coca-Cola advertisement using AI.
• Selling AI artwork featuring Mickey Mouse.
• Using a celebrity’s face or voice to promote your product.
• Making a logo that closely resembles Nike’s swoosh.

These issues often involve trademark law, rights of publicity, or other intellectual property laws—not just copyright. AI doesn’t give permission to use someone else’s brand or identity. 

A Good Rule of Thumb

One sentence your readers will probably remember is:

If you couldn’t legally copy it without AI, you probably can’t legally copy it with AI.

AI doesn’t replace copyright law. It simply changes how creative work is produced.

I would also recommend adding one reassuring point to your article because many people are unnecessarily afraid of AI:

What AI is great for:

• Brainstorming ideas
• Organizing outlines
• Improving grammar
• Editing drafts
• Generating marketing copy
• Creating original concepts from your own ideas
• Helping overcome writer’s block

That’s where AI shines. It helps creators create more efficiently while keeping the human author at the center of the creative process.

See you at the conference!

-Kennisha