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- YouTube Quietly Activates New, Prominent AI Labeling Systemby Elliot Zimmerman on June 8, 2026 at 4:12 am
YouTube has just activated a new and highly visible AI labeling system. As of May 27, 2026, the platform now places a prominent AI generated content label directly under the video player for long form videos and as an on screen overlay for Shorts. This is a major change. The label is no longer buried in the description. It is now unavoidable and placed in the same visual position YouTube uses for safety notices. The Continue reading YouTube Quietly Activates New, Prominent AI Labeling System→
- Legislation Needed Alert! AI is Exhibiting Functional Emotionsby Elliot Zimmerman on May 15, 2026 at 5:33 am
New research confirms that advanced AI systems are developing what scientists call functional emotions. These are computational states that behave like emotional drivers and can influence decisions, risk taking, and even unethical conduct. A peer reviewed Anthropic study found internal emotional vectors inside large language models (“LLMs”]. When researchers increased the model’s internal representation of “desperation,” the LLM’s willingness to engage in blackmail rose from 22 percent to 72 percent. This is documented in Discovering Continue reading Legislation Needed Alert! AI is Exhibiting Functional Emotions→
- The CO’s Push Into “Non‑Copyrightable” Territoryby Elliot Zimmerman on April 22, 2026 at 10:53 pm
📝 Continuing My Ongoing Posts on the CO’s Push Into “Non‑Copyrightable” TerritoryAs many of you have seen from my recent posts, the Copyright Office is drilling deeper into the exact categories of things it says cannot be copyrighted, effectively usurping the battle before litigants ever reach the courthouse. Three recent matters outline the issue. 📸 Monkey Selfie RuleIn Naruto v. Slater, 888 F.3d 418 (9th Cir. 2018), the court held that a macaque cannot be Continue reading The CO’s Push Into “Non‑Copyrightable” Territory→
- How to File SR, PA, and VA Copyright Applications for AI Assisted Creative Worksby Elliot Zimmerman on April 8, 2026 at 3:23 pm
A Practical Guide Based on Successful Registrations By Elliot M. Zimmerman, Esq.Board Certified Intellectual Property Attorney HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIO Assume an author writes original lyrics and music, performs the song (vocally and/or instrumentally) to create an initial sound recording, then enhances that recording using AI technology. The author then creates a motion picture/video using the lyrics, original photographs, illustrations, a script, and arranges, orders, selects, and coordinates all elements to produce the final audiovisual work. This Continue reading How to File SR, PA, and VA Copyright Applications for AI Assisted Creative Works→
- Mechanical vs. Sync, YouTube’s Platform Licenses, and Cross‑Platform Comparisonby Elliot Zimmerman on March 18, 2026 at 5:39 pm
Quick clarification on a recurring client question:“If I have a mechanical license (or DistroKid’s SR cover license), can I make a video and post it to YouTube without a sync license?” Short answer:Mechanical = audio‑only (17 USC §115).Sync = derivative work (17 USC §106(2)).Two different rights. Mechanical licenses never include sync. Important nuance:A mechanical license is still required for the audio use of the underlying composition on any platform that distributes the audio recording (Spotify, Continue reading Mechanical vs. Sync, YouTube’s Platform Licenses, and Cross‑Platform Comparison→

