Wuhan Court Ruling Includes AI Production Costs in Copyright Damages

• •Wuhan court ruled AI-generated content can be copyrightable.
• •First case to include AI production costs in damages calculation.
• •Plaintiff awarded RMB 20,000 for copyright infringement.

On September 23, 2026, the Jiang’an District People’s Court in Wuhan, China, ruled on a copyright infringement case involving an AI-assisted short drama. The court determined that AI-generated content can be copyrightable if it meets the criteria of a 'work' under copyright law. The plaintiff, Company A, was awarded RMB 20,000 in damages, which included costs for AI tool licensing and token usage. The case involved a dispute over a short drama titled 'Cloud Above XX,' which was released on platforms like WeChat after being created with AI tools. The court emphasized that human creative input at various production stages was essential for copyright protection. This ruling is significant as it extends copyright protections for AI-generated works in China, following earlier cases that recognized similar protections. The decision highlights the evolving legal landscape surrounding AI and copyright.