Runway, an AI video-generating startup, has come under fire for allegedly scraping copyrighted content without permission. According to leaked internal spreadsheets obtained by 404 Media, the company trained its Gen-3 model using YouTube videos from popular channels such as Disney, Netflix, and Pixar. This revelation has raised concerns about intellectual property rights and the ethical use of data by AI companies.
Former employees of Runway reportedly stated that the company utilized the spreadsheets to identify specific videos it wanted in its database. To avoid detection, Runway employed open-source proxy software, effectively covering its tracks while downloading the videos. The spreadsheet categorized videos by keywords such as “astronaut,” “fairy,” and “rainbow,” indicating whether corresponding high-quality videos were found for training purposes.
One disturbing note in the spreadsheet mentioned the inclusion of “Lots of movie clips” under the term “superhero.” This suggests that Runway knowingly used copyrighted movie footage without obtaining proper authorization.
The spreadsheets also identified YouTube channels related to Unreal Engine, filmmaker Josh Neuman, and a Call of Duty fan page as sources for “high movement” training videos. It appears that Runway’s web crawler downloaded all the videos from these channels, using proxies to avoid being blocked by Google.
This unauthorized use of copyrighted content raises significant concerns in the AI community. It highlights the need for stricter regulations and ethical guidelines to govern the collection and use of data by AI startups. Failure to adhere to these principles could lead to legal consequences and damage the reputation of AI companies in the long run.
In an industry where innovation and respect for intellectual property are crucial, it is essential for AI startups like Runway to prioritize ethical practices and obtain appropriate licenses for the content they use. Only by doing so can these companies maintain credibility and foster positive relationships within the creative and entertainment industries.