Valve, the owner of the popular gaming platform Steam, has been quietly implementing a policy to ban games that include AI-generated assets. This move comes as a response to concerns about copyright infringement and the ownership of original art or text assets used to train AI algorithms.
According to an anonymous developer on Reddit, Valve is unwilling to accept games from developers who cannot prove they have the rights to the AI-generated assets used in their games.
Here’s the entire email that the developer with the nickname potterharry97 claims to have received from Valve and the rest of the discussion:
Valve is not willing to publish games with AI generated content anymore
byu/potterharry97 inaigamedev
Is Valve entirely against AI use in game production?
The developer shared their experience of attempting to release a game with AI-generated assets. They planned to submit an early version of the game, with a few assets that were clearly generated by AI, intending to improve them before the official release. However, they received an email from Valve stating that they cannot ship games for which the developer does not possess all the necessary rights.
Valve pointed out that the game contained AI-generated art assets that appeared to rely on copyrighted material owned by third parties. Due to the unclear legal ownership of such AI-generated art, Valve could not release the game unless the developer could confirm ownership of the rights to the entire data set used to train the AI.
Despite the developer’s efforts to remove any content they did not have rights to, the game was ultimately declined. Valve, as a gesture of goodwill, refunded the app credits used to submit the game. In response to inquiries, Valve clarified that the introduction of AI has made it more challenging to determine if developers have the appropriate rights to use AI-generated assets, including images, text, and music. They emphasized that it is the developer’s responsibility to ensure they have the necessary rights to publish their game.
In the email, they explained: “Our goal is not to discourage the use of AI on Steam; instead, we’re working through how to integrate it“. Their current review process is based on copyright laws and policies, rather than personal opinions. As these laws and policies evolve, Valve will adjust its process accordingly.
The decision by Valve to implement this policy reflects the complexities and legal uncertainties surrounding AI-generated assets. The use of AI in creating artwork and other assets has raised concerns about copyright infringement and intellectual property rights. Valve’s proactive approach aims to address these issues and protect the rights of content creators. As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial for developers to navigate these legal complexities and ensure they have the appropriate rights before incorporating AI-generated assets into their games.
Valve recently announced a significant update to its Steam application, introducing a fresh new look, improved notifications, a new in-game overlay, and a Notes feature. Given the immense popularity of the Steam platform, these changes are likely to impact a vast number of PC gamers and further enhance their gaming experience.
The use of AI-generated content in the creative industries seems to be a main subject of discussion at the moment, and it probably will be so in the near future. Regarding the cinematic aspect of the discussion, the recent release of the Secret Invasion AI intro has also sparked disagreement among fans. As laws and regulations surrounding the copyrighting of AI-generated content evolve, we will witness the direction that these fields turn to in time.
Featured Image: Credit
