Microsoft's AI chief, Mustafa Suleyman, suggested that content posted on the open web should be considered "freeware," implying it's fair game for use.
He argued that since the 1990s, content on the web has been understood as freely usable by anyone for copying and reproduction.
However, Microsoft's licensing terms for products like Windows 11 contradict this stance, emphasizing strict protection of intellectual property.
The terms of use for Windows 11 state that while content in the public domain can be freely used, online availability does not automatically mean it's free to use.
Suleyman's view that one can freely "copy, recreate, and reproduce" content conflicts with software licensing agreements, which forbid such actions without permission.
U.S. copyright law protects various forms of intellectual property, including software, regardless of whether they are available online.
AI companies, including those using data from the web to train models, face legal challenges due to copyright infringement claims, as seen in lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft.