Human Involvement Is Key: The Belgian & EU Approach
- As of 2025, the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) emphasizes transparency and traceability in AI-generated content. Belgium is among the first countries to implement these regulations.
- Copyright protection is now tied to demonstrable human creativity. Works created solely by AI, without meaningful human input, are not eligible for copyright protection under current EU law.
- The EU Copyright Directive is also evolving to include specific licensing mechanisms for AI-generated works, especially in the fields of music, digital art, and multimedia.
Deepfakes and the Rise of Personality Rights: Denmark’s Model
- In mid-2025, Denmark introduced a new law granting individuals copyright-like protection over their image, voice, and likeness—especially when reproduced via AI deepfake technology.
- This move has sparked interest among Belgian legal professionals, especially as public figures, artists, and influencers increasingly face misuse of their personal features in AI-generated content.
- The convergence of copyright and personality rights is now a critical topic in AI regulation across Europe.
The Turkish Context: A System in Transition
- Turkey still operates under Copyright Law No. 5846, which lacks clear provisions for AI-generated content.
- As legal professionals based in Belgium, we observe that Turkish practitioners are starting to emphasize human involvement in AI-assisted works and are advising clients to include “AI contribution” clauses in content licensing contracts.
- Turkish creators publishing on platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Instagram are increasingly seeking international licensing options to protect their works in global markets.
Practical Tips for Legal Professionals in Belgium
- Document Human Contribution: If AI tools are used in content creation, be sure to document the scope of human involvement. This may serve as evidence in future copyright disputes.
- Draft Contracts Carefully: Include explicit clauses on AI-assisted creation, ownership, and revenue sharing when drafting agreements with creators or platform operators.
- Prepare for Deepfake Risks: For public-facing clients, develop a legal strategy to prevent the unauthorized use of their image or voice in AI-generated media. Belgium currently lacks a deepfake-specific statute, but European harmonization efforts are underway.
Conclusion
AI is revolutionizing content creation—and the law is racing to keep up. Belgium and the EU are leading the charge in defining clear rules around human authorship and personality rights. Turkey, on the other hand, is still in the early stages of adapting its copyright framework.
At Atlas IP Law, we are committed to guiding our clients through this evolving legal landscape—both within Belgium and across borders.