Initial designs of artificial humans: intellectual property and ethical aspects

ABSTRACT Startups and tech giants, working on the computer replication of human personality, are showing remarkable progress. A substantial part of this activity concentrates on the engineering of artificial life-enabling instruments that fall within the scope of intellectual property law. However, the rendering of virtual people based on a pre-designed technological basis raises new social dilemmas. This article covers five aspects of the activity. First, the initial experiments and main approaches to the computer emulation of humans are observed. Secondly, the interrelated ethical, legal, and technological challenges of the artificial person phenomenon are examined. Thirdly, licensing provisions on using the backbone platform of replicated individuals are considered. Fourthly, the allocation of virtual humans under the legal regime of the public domain is discussed. Finally, amendments to upgrade the relevant standpoints of law, fuelled by the progress of mind-uploading engineering, are elaborated. Overall, the study adds value to the development of legal and ethical principles for the science and technology of artificial life.