Is It LEGAL to SELL AI Generated Art on Etsy, RedBubble, Society6 & Other Marketplaces?

The video discusses the legality and feasibility of selling AI-generated art on various online marketplaces such as Redbubble, Society6, and Etsy. The creator expresses concerns about the sustainability and legitimacy of this trend, questioning whether these platforms allow the sale of AI art and if there's actual demand for such products. They share their journey of contacting multiple marketplaces to get clarification on their policies regarding AI art. The responses varied, with some platforms like Spreadshirt and Threadless affirming the sale of AI art as long as it adheres to their guidelines, while others like Tpublic provided non-answers or required further legal consultation. The video emphasizes the importance of checking the terms of service for both the AI art generator tools and the marketplaces to ensure compliance with intellectual property rights. It also touches on the broader implications of AI on the art industry and the evolving definitions of art and creativity.

Takeaways

• 🤔 The legality of selling AI-generated art on platforms like Etsy, Redbubble, and Society6 is not universally clear and can be confusing due to the lack of explicit policies or contradictory information online.
• 🚫 Stock photography purchased for commercial use from sites like Shutterstock cannot be used for print-on-demand products on Etsy, even though the photographer has the right to display it and you have the right to use it commercially.
• 💡 The legality of selling AI art on a platform does not negate the possibility of copyright infringement; using trademarked phrases or characters in AI art can lead to bans regardless of the platform's stance on AI art.
• 🙅‍♂️ The term 'AI-generated' is used to describe art created with the help of artificial intelligence tools, and it is important to recognize that these tools are just that—tools for creation, not a dismissal of the art itself.
• 🤝 Contacting multiple marketplaces directly for clarification on their stance regarding AI-generated art is a proactive step, although responses can be varied and sometimes unhelpful.
• 📄 Spreadshirt allows AI art as long as it complies with their marketplace and community guidelines, emphasizing the importance of quality for printing.
• 🚷 Tpublic did not provide a clear answer regarding AI art, instead referring to their terms and conditions and suggesting consultation with an intellectual property specialist.
• 🌐 Displayed is open to AI art uploads as long as the artist confirms owning all intellectual property rights to the submitted designs, respecting the platform's and third parties' rights.
• 🎨 Zazzle explicitly allows AI-generated content as part of the final composition, as long as it is tagged as 'generative content' and adheres to their content guidelines.
• 🧐 Society6 surprisingly permits the upload of AI-generated artwork, provided the artist has the rights to the AI-created content, contradicting some preconceptions about the platform's stance on artistry.
• 📈 While some platforms have clear policies or are open to AI-generated art, others like Redbubble and Amazon's Merge have provided non-answers or required further clarification, indicating a potential lack of solid policies regarding AI art.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the legality and feasibility of selling AI-generated art on various online marketplaces such as Redbubble, Society6, and others.

Why is the legality of selling AI art on marketplaces an important issue to discuss?

The legality is important because it addresses whether it's allowed on different marketplaces to sell AI-generated art, which is often a confusing and under-discussed topic.

What are some of the marketplaces mentioned in the video where AI art can potentially be sold?

The video mentions marketplaces such as Redbubble, Society6, Zazzle, Etsy, and Amazon as places where the legality of selling AI art is questioned.

Why did the video creator contact multiple marketplaces regarding AI art?

The video creator contacted multiple marketplaces to get clear and direct answers about the policy on selling AI-generated art, as the information online was confusing and contradicting.

What is the video creator's stance on AI-generated art being considered as 'real' art?

The video creator acknowledges the debate but focuses on the practical aspect of selling AI art, using terms like 'AI-generated' to describe the tools that create such art, without taking a firm stance on its artistic merit.

What is the importance of checking the terms of service for AI art generators?

Checking the terms of service is crucial because some AI tools may restrict the use of their generated content to personal use only, and may not allow for commercial use without a proper license.

What advice does the video creator give to those looking to sell AI art on marketplaces?

The video creator advises not to rely solely on AI-generated art for sales, but to use AI as a part of the design process, combining it with personal creativity and a unique style to increase the chances of sales.

Why did the video creator find some of the responses from marketplaces unsatisfactory?

The video creator found some responses unsatisfactory because they felt the representatives did not directly answer the question about AI art, instead providing generic or unrelated information.

What is the video creator's view on the potential impact of AI-generated art on the traditional art market?

The video creator suggests that AI-generated art can coexist with traditional art and can be used as a tool to enhance creativity and efficiency, but also acknowledges the ongoing debate about its impact.

How does the video creator describe the process of reaching out to various platforms for clarification on AI art policies?

The video creator describes it as a challenging and time-consuming process, involving multiple attempts and various forms of communication, with mixed results in terms of the clarity and usefulness of the responses received.

What is the conclusion the video creator comes to about the legality of selling AI art on the mentioned platforms?

The conclusion is that the legality varies by platform, with some allowing AI art under certain conditions and others providing unclear or unsatisfactory answers. The video creator emphasizes the importance of checking individual platform policies and the terms of the AI tools used.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Exploring the Legitimacy of Selling AI Art

The speaker begins by addressing the widespread claims of earning significant income from selling AI-generated art on platforms like Redbubble. They express skepticism about the sustainability and demand for such products. The focus is shifted to the legality of selling AI art, not in terms of copyright infringement, but whether it's allowed on various marketplaces. The speaker clarifies they are not a legal expert and advises consulting a lawyer for legal matters. They also mention the potential for changes in marketplace policies and the importance of adhering to copyright and trademark laws, even when using AI art tools.

05:01

🔍 Investigating Platform Policies on AI Art

The speaker recounts their research journey to determine if it's legal to sell AI art on multiple platforms. They contacted various marketplaces, such as Redbubble, Society66, and Zazzle, to inquire about their policies regarding AI-generated artwork. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the terms of service and the potential for policy changes. They also highlight the need to ensure the quality of AI-generated prints for commercial use and the importance of not infringing on copyrights or trademarks.

10:03

📄 Terms of Service and AI Art

The paragraph details the speaker's interactions with different platforms regarding their policies on AI art. They mention that T-public did not provide a clear answer, while Displayed emphasized the importance of respecting intellectual property rights. The speaker also discusses the challenges they faced in getting a response from Displayed's automated chat system and their eventual success in obtaining a direct email for inquiries. The paragraph underscores the lack of clear policies regarding AI art on some platforms.

15:04

🚫 Navigating Copyright and AI Art Sales

The speaker inquires about the use of AI-generated art on various platforms, including Zazzle, Fine Art America, Society6, and Threadless. They note that Zazzle has clear guidelines on tagging AI-generated content, while Society6 confirms the legality of selling AI art as long as the artist owns the rights to the content. Threadless is mentioned as being supportive of AI art, featuring shops that use it. The speaker expresses frustration with Redbubble's non-committal response to their inquiry.

20:05

🤨 The Challenge of Getting Clear Answers

The paragraph discusses the speaker's attempts to get clear answers from platforms like Imprint and Creative Fabrica regarding the sale of AI art. Imprint's policy is mentioned, stating that content entirely made with AI is not allowed. Creative Fabrica is highlighted as allowing AI art sales, provided it's uploaded to the correct category. The speaker emphasizes the need to check the terms of service for both the marketplace and the AI art generator tool to ensure compliance with commercial use guidelines.

25:06

🏗️ Building a Strategy for Selling AI Art

The speaker advises against uploading a large volume of AI-generated designs with the expectation of sales, as platforms do not promote products without existing sales. They suggest focusing on marketing, developing a unique style, and finding a niche. The speaker endorses the use of AI art as part of the design process, rather than as the sole content of a product. They also mention creating a playlist of videos related to AI tools and discuss the broader implications of AI on art and creative work, including potential job displacement and the evolving definition of art.

30:07

😂 Final Thoughts on AI Art and Platform Policies

The speaker concludes with a humorous reflection on their month-long effort to obtain information from various platforms about AI art policies. They express surprise at the lack of clear policies from major companies and suggest that these companies may not want to limit what can be sold on their platforms, as it could reduce profits. The speaker advises against using AI-generated content as the entirety of a product and recommends using it as a starting point or for inspiration. They also touch on the moral and ethical considerations of AI art and its impact on the art community.

Keywords

💡AI Generated Art

AI Generated Art refers to artwork that is created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In the context of the video, the host is exploring the legality and practicality of selling such art on various online marketplaces. The script discusses the ethical considerations and the potential for copyright infringement associated with AI art, making it a central theme of the video.

💡Redbubble

Redbubble is an online marketplace that allows artists to sell their designs on various products such as stickers, t-shirts, and phone cases. The video investigates whether it is permissible to sell AI generated art on Redbubble, which is a significant aspect of the content as the host seeks to understand the platform's policies.

💡Etsy

Etsy is an e-commerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. The script mentions the platform's policy regarding the sale of AI generated art, which is a point of contention as the host attempts to clarify the rules for selling such items on Etsy.

💡Copyright Infringement

Copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of material protected by copyright law. The video emphasizes the importance of not infringing on copyrights when selling AI generated art, as this could lead to legal issues and being banned from marketplaces. It is a critical concept that underpins the legality discussion throughout the script.

💡Terms of Service

Terms of Service are the legal agreements between a service provider and its users. The video script frequently refers to the need to check the Terms of Service of various platforms to understand the rules regarding the sale of AI generated art, highlighting the importance of these agreements in determining what is legally permissible to sell.

💡Intellectual Property

Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, names, and images used in commerce. The video discusses the rights of artists and third parties concerning the intellectual property rights of AI generated art, which is a key concern when considering the legality of selling such art.

💡Print on Demand

Print on Demand is a service used by the platforms mentioned in the video where products are manufactured, printed, and shipped only when a customer makes a purchase. This business model is central to the discussion as it is the method by which AI generated art can be sold on various marketplaces.

💡Society6

Society6 is an online marketplace known for featuring artist-created products. The host expresses surprise at Society6's stance on allowing the sale of AI generated art, which contrasts with the platform's reputation for supporting 'true artists', making it a notable point in the video.

💡Creative Fabrica

Creative Fabrica is a platform for creating and selling digital designs, which is mentioned in the context of selling AI generated art. The video discusses the platform's policy of allowing AI art as long as it is uploaded to the correct category, indicating a specific approach to the sale of such art.

💡Zazzle

Zazzle is another online marketplace that allows users to sell their designs on various products. The video mentions Zazzle's content guidelines, which explicitly state that AI generated content can be sold on the platform, provided it adheres to their standards, making it a positive example for the host's inquiry.

💡Marketplace Policies

Marketplace Policies refer to the rules and regulations that govern the sale of goods on e-commerce platforms. The video script delves into the various policies of different marketplaces regarding AI generated art, which is essential for understanding the legality and feasibility of selling such products online.

Highlights

The legality of selling AI-generated art on various marketplaces is a topic of confusion and contradiction.

The video aims to clarify whether it is permitted to sell AI art on platforms like Redbubble, Society6, and others.

The legality does not pertain to copyright infringement but to the policies of the marketplaces themselves.

Contacting multiple marketplaces for clarification can lead to inconsistent and sometimes unhelpful responses.

Spreadshirt allows AI art as long as it complies with their marketplace and community guidelines.

TeePublic's response was ambiguous, not directly addressing the legality of selling AI art on their platform.

Display said they do not limit AI-generated uploads but artists are responsible for the works they submit.

Zazzle has a clear policy allowing AI-generated content as long as it adheres to their content guidelines.

Society6 surprisingly permits the upload of AI-generated artwork, provided the artist has the rights to the content.

Threadless features shops using AI art, indicating that they allow it on their platform.

Redbubble's response was vague, not providing clear approval or guidelines regarding AI art.

Imprint does not allow items entirely made with AI, but does not specify about AI-generated content combined with other elements.

Creative Fabrica permits the sale of AI art on their platform, but it must be uploaded to the AI-generated category.

FY (Fulfillment by Amazon) was unclear about their stance on AI art, providing no definitive answer.

Etsy allows the sale of AI art, as long as the seller has the right to use the image.

The importance of checking the terms of service for both the marketplace and the AI art generator tool is emphasized.

The video suggests using AI-generated content as a part of a design, rather than as the entire product, for better marketability.

The debate over the moral and artistic implications of AI-generated art is complex and unresolved.