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What about compiled binaries? If I write my own original source code (and thus automatically own the copyright to it), and compile it to binary, is the binary n

by cal85 3y ago

What about compiled binaries? If I write my own original source code (and thus automatically own the copyright to it), and compile it to binary, is the binary not protected to?

sebzim4500 3y ago
No, because you the input to that process was a bunch of work that you did. In the case of an LLM, I don't think that the work of compiling the training data probably would qualify by analogy to the phonebook example.
- cal85 3y ago
  Sure, but I was just responding to "Generally the output of a machine is not copyrightable", which seemed obviously wrong to me... But on reflection, you are totally right, I was just getting mixed up on the distinction between copies and the creative works themselves. Machine output of something is generally just a copy of something. Whatever it is a copy of may be a copyrightable work, and if so, whoever came up with that original work has the right to all the copies output by machines (or copies generated by hand-tracing, or whatever). Anyway, on LLMs... Even if we assume LLM weights are just copies (machine outputs) of whatever inputs they were trained on, then I assume I would automatically own the exclusive right to restrict the distribution of weights of a 'Me' chatbot trained exclusively on my own writings. But what if someone else comes along and writes a load of bespoke code specifically to generate improved weights for this same model, so the resultant chatbot works much better in conversation (still with my tone of voice, but with better performance and better interpretation of questions)? Is that programmer not adding some creative value, such that we might both have a right to restrict distribution of those improved weights? (NB. it's common for an item to be a 'copy' of multiple original works, e.g. copies of Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower'.)

by cal85 3y ago

What about compiled binaries? If I write my own original source code (and thus automatically own the copyright to it), and compile it to binary, is the binary not protected to?

sebzim4500 3y ago

No, because you the input to that process was a bunch of work that you did. In the case of an LLM, I don't think that the work of compiling the training data probably would qualify by analogy to the phonebook example.

cal85 3y ago
Sure, but I was just responding to "Generally the output of a machine is not copyrightable", which seemed obviously wrong to me... But on reflection, you are totally right, I was just getting mixed up on the distinction between copies and the creative works themselves. Machine output of something is generally just a copy of something. Whatever it is a copy of may be a copyrightable work, and if so, whoever came up with that original work has the right to all the copies output by machines (or copies generated by hand-tracing, or whatever). Anyway, on LLMs... Even if we assume LLM weights are just copies (machine outputs) of whatever inputs they were trained on, then I assume I would automatically own the exclusive right to restrict the distribution of weights of a 'Me' chatbot trained exclusively on my own writings. But what if someone else comes along and writes a load of bespoke code specifically to generate improved weights for this same model, so the resultant chatbot works much better in conversation (still with my tone of voice, but with better performance and better interpretation of questions)? Is that programmer not adding some creative value, such that we might both have a right to restrict distribution of those improved weights? (NB. it's common for an item to be a 'copy' of multiple original works, e.g. copies of Jimi Hendrix's cover of Bob Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower'.)