Today’s show:

Jason sits down with Wilson Sonsini partner Chris Paniewski for part two of our Startup Legal Basics series on AI law — this time tackling the question every founder is asking: who owns the output of AI systems?

Chris has advised on some of the biggest AI deals in history, and in this episode he helps break down how intellectual property law is colliding with generative AI.

Jason and Chris cover:

What kinds of IP rights might apply to AI-generated output (copyrights, patents, trade secrets)
Why human authorship is central to copyright law
Whether prompts are protectable IP
How GenAI platforms’ terms of service affect ownership
Real-world examples from Star Wars to Wirecutter to Warhol
What startups should document when using AI in development
How investors diligence AI companies on IP strategy