Back to resources

ChatGPT AI chatbot: Risks to your Intellectual Property (IP) and how to protect it

ChatGPT AI chatbot: Risks to your Intellectual Property (IP) and how to protect it

Published by

Mindset Team

Published on

November 28, 2023
July 27, 2024

Read time

4
min read

Category

Thought Leadership

Let’s talk about something that's been all over the internet - ChatGPT!

You must have either heard of it from someone or tried it out yourself. ChatGPT is an AI chatbot created by OpenAI that uses deep learning algorithms, natural language processing, and generative pre-training to produce human-like responses to natural language prompts. Wondering what makes this language model so popular? Well, ChatGPT is not just any language model. It's a witty, charming, and endlessly entertaining conversationalist that has taken the internet by storm.

Who wouldn’t love having a smart, funny friend at their fingertips that can help them with a tricky maths problem or just chat about their favourite TV show? And the best thing is, ChatGPT is constantly getting smarter. With its vast knowledge base and advanced AI capabilities, it's constantly learning and growing.

As businesses and individuals rely more and more on chatbots like ChatGPT, it is important to ensure that your intellectual property (IP) is properly protected. Intellectual property refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary and artistic works, designs, symbols, and names used in commerce. As incredibly powerful as it is, ChatGPT can lead to some potentially risky situations when it comes to Intellectual Property (IP).

Potential intellectual property risks when using ChatGPT

Some of the IP risks that businesses and their employees should be aware of when using ChatGPT or any AI chatbots include:

Infringement of third-party IP -  One of the potential risks is that ChatGPT can generate content that might infringe on the Intellectual Property of others. It isn’t always easy to ensure that the content generated by ChatGPT is original and does not infringe on the IP rights of others.

Misuse of your IP -  Every user has their own IP and it is what essentially makes them different. ChatGPT can generate content that might infringe on your Intellectual Property. It's important to monitor the use of ChatGPT and any content generated by the AI language model to ensure that your IP is not being misused.

Ownership loss - When it comes to generating content using AI language models, it becomes tricky to understand the ownership of the content. Most users ignore the terms of service and any licensing agreements when using ChatGPT which leads to failure to retain ownership of your IP. It is also important to note that ChatGPT doesn't offer any protection for your intellectual property. This means that if someone copies your ideas or designs, there's nothing stopping them from doing so unless you take steps to protect yourself first.

Data protection and security risks-  As a user you might give ChatGPT the access to your data, which may include confidential or proprietary information.  Additionally, ChatGPT may also pose security risks, including the potential for cyber-attacks or data breaches. Unless the users ensure that their data is protected and that ChatGPT complies with all relevant privacy and data protection laws and regulations, privacy and data protection is a potential risk of using ChatGPT.

With all these risks, it's important to ensure that ChatGPT is secure and that appropriate security measures are in place to protect your IP and data. Let’s understand what you can do as a business or an individual to protect your IP from ChatGPT.

Protecting your IP when using ChatGPT: Tips and best practices

ChatGPT is a great tool for connecting with your customers, but it's important to know that ChatGPT is not designed to protect your intellectual property (IP). Here are a few tips and best practices to protect your IP from ChatGPT or any Artificial Intelligence Chatbots.  

Intellectual property registration - It is always advisable to register your Intellectual Property with relevant authorities in your country or region. There are different types of IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and designs. Identify which one you want to register and ensure that it meets the requirements for registration.

Registering your IP can provide legal protection and help you take legal action against any infringement. It is important to note that the registration process for IP can be complex, and it may be advisable to seek professional advice to ensure that your IP is properly registered and protected.

Limit access to your IP: Open AI gives an option to opt out of having your data used to improve their models by filling out a form. Both businesses and individuals can use this form to opt out of providing data to ChatGPT. This limits access to your IP and protects your data from ChatGPT. Only provide access to those who need it, and ensure that access is password-protected and encrypted. You can also consider using digital rights management (DRM) tools to restrict access and prevent unauthorised use.

Unique input: Protect your IP from ChatGPT by using unique input to ask questions. Utilising jargon or phrases that are not commonly used in your business can make it harder for ChatGPT to generate content that matches your IP. Instead of using specific examples or data, try using anonymous or generic data when interacting with ChatGPT. This can help protect your IP by minimising the amount of proprietary information that is shared.

Educate your employees - Educate your employees on best practices for protecting IP when using ChatGPT. This can include training on how to identify and avoid potential IP risks. Provide training on IP protection to ensure that your employees are following best practices. If you want your employees to understand why protecting their intellectual property is so important, then they need to know what it means and why they should care about protecting it.

Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) - These can help protect your IP when working with third-party vendors, including ChatGPT. Ensure that NDAs are signed before sharing any confidential information, including any trade secrets or proprietary information. It's always a good idea to work with a lawyer who specialises in IP law. They can help you navigate the legal landscape and ensure that your IP is properly protected.

Monitor for infringement - Monitor ChatGPT usage and any generated content that may be related to your IP. This can help you identify any potential infringements and take appropriate action to protect your IP. You can use tools like Google Alerts to monitor the web for any mention of your content. If you find any infringement, take immediate action to stop it.

By being aware of these IP risks when using ChatGPT, you can take steps to mitigate them and protect your IP. It's important to consult with legal and cybersecurity professionals to ensure that you are taking appropriate measures to protect your IP and data.

Find out more about how to make the most out of Mindset AI and how Mindset AI will prevent IP infringement while training its chatbots to be AI co-pilots within its customer platforms. Get in touch with one of our experts today!

Become an AI expert

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest AI news.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Share this:
Related

Articles

Stay tuned for the latest AI thought leadership.

View all

Book a demo today.

Because your employees don't have time for repetitive work.

Book a demo