A legal & ethical framework for creative works made with AI, assigning full authorship to a human Principal Author.
Current copyright law doesn't cover non-human creators; this model clarifies ownership and responsibility when using AI tools.
Tarik Karenga and Google Gemma 3-27B developed the framework to address legal gaps in human-AI co-creation.
The human who directs the AI, controls creative decisions, and assumes full responsibility for the final work.
No! AI is a powerful tool; Vicarious Authorship acknowledges its contribution while maintaining human control & accountability.
Yes, but clarifying authorship is crucial. Vicarious Authorship provides a legally defensible structure for doing so.
Clearly stating that AI was used in the creation of your work (e.g., using the [v.a.] citation format).
Vicarious Authorship strengthens your legal position by establishing clear authorship and intentionality, but doesn't guarantee immunity. Consult with a legal professional for specific advice.
"[v.a.]" acknowledges AI assistance while identifying the Principal Author as legally responsible. (See our Citation Guide for details.)
Vicarious Authorship applies broadly (writing, visual art, music, code, and more) whenever AI contributes to the creation process.
While not required, consulting with legal counsel is recommended for complex projects or high-stakes applications.
The Principal Author remains responsible for all outputs, emphasizing the importance of careful prompt engineering and editorial review.
Vicarious Authorship aims to secure your IP by establishing clear ownership under existing copyright principles, you own the final work as the author.
Yes! Designate one Principal Author responsible for overseeing AI use and ensuring compliance with the framework.
The [v.a.] citation can acknowledge general AI assistance, or you can specify each tool used in a more detailed description.
No, it's a framework developed to address current ambiguities; its legal defensibility is based on established principles and evolving case law.
First use case: see, Karenga, T. [v.a.], & Grok, created by xAI. (2025). ISD overview. Incongruent Stereotype Defense. https://www.incongruentstereotypedefense.com/overview.html. More examples of practical applications of the Vicarious Authorship citation format coming soon.
Prompt engineering is crafting effective instructions for AI; careful prompting ensures control over outputs and strengthens your claim as Principal Author.