I feel bad for asking the question, so maybe I deserved that.

But I asked it because I've spent many nights wondering the same thing about my work in AI, in the United States. Should I pursue something knowing it's legally questionable? How about knowing it's illegal? Big companies seem to walk the tightrope. Joel isn't a big company, yet he's guiding Artbreeder to commercial success. Should I be more ambitious?

These questions affect us all, not just Joel. So I ask it with the sole intention that it might help us navigate the strange waters we often find ourselves in, both as AI researchers and as individuals. I suspect in the coming years that we'll see many more lone-wolf type projects (https://thisfursonadoesnotexist.com/ has recently been making headlines) and legal issues are becoming more and more of an elephant in our shared room.

There are broader ethical questions at play here, too. nVidia trained their model using people's faces, without paying any of them, then claims to hold the rights to limit how people are allowed to make money on the result. Legal, perhaps, but ethical? And if it's unethical, what does that mean we should do, if anything?

Joel's project is a concrete example to point to when someone says "This project has license X, so get real and stop dreaming about starting a business." (The sentiment is shockingly common with almost any AI project, since most AI work comes from big companies with licenses like nVidia's.) Personally, I find it inspiring that someone is doing it anyway.

Don’t feel bad you asked the question. I can tell from content and context that you were asking in good faith. The reply you got, well. Let’s just say it seemed in less so good faith.

It's sad you even had to ask, don't be sad yourself, and your contribution to the conversion taught me several important things I didn't know before about this area, so thanks a bunch!

In a previous career, I was an IP lawyer in the United States, so I've honed a decent sense of what can and can't be said without running afoul of bar guidelines.

> Can we safely take your comment as legal advice in making business decisions about the use of the nVidia model?

What advice were they giving? It seemed like they were mostly asking questions. I don't think any bar in the United States would take those comments as advice, legal or otherwise.

Maybe I missed something. In the interests of quality comments and constructive feedback, maybe you could walk us through your line of reasoning?

FWIW I read sillysaurusx's comment as someone being friendly and pointing out a potential bug, not as snark or arrogance.

He’s not nvidia’s lawyer either so what does it matter either way? Please don’t do this here.