Arkansas AI Content Ownership Rules

NCSL AI Legislation Tracker

Published August 4th, 2025

Detected April 6th, 2026

Summary

Arkansas enacted Act 927 establishing ownership rules for AI-generated content and model training. The law grants content ownership to the person providing input to a generative AI tool, and model training ownership to the person providing training data, subject to work-for-hire provisions for employees. The statute takes effect August 4, 2025.

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What changed

Arkansas established a new statutory framework under Ark. Code § 18-4-101 governing ownership of AI-generated content and trained models. When a person uses a generative AI tool to create content, the person providing the input or directive becomes the owner, provided the content does not infringe existing copyrights. Similarly, the person providing training data owns the resulting trained model if the data was lawfully acquired and no contractual transfer occurred. The law includes work-for-hire provisions making employer-owned any content or model training created by employees within their scope of employment.

Businesses and employers using generative AI should review contracts, terms of service, and internal policies to ensure alignment with the new ownership rules. Organizations that provide training data to AI vendors should verify they have proper documentation of lawful acquisition and ownership retention. Employers directing employees to use AI tools should update employment policies to address work-for-hire implications. The law takes effect August 4, 2025, and does not grant ownership over any content that infringes pre-existing copyrights or IP rights.

What to do next

Review contracts and terms of service with AI vendors to verify ownership provisions align with Ark. Code § 18-4-101
Audit internal policies on employee use of generative AI tools under work-for-hire provisions
Document lawful acquisition of any training data used to develop or fine-tune AI models

Source document (simplified)

Arkansas House Bill 1876 (2025)

(2025) AR H 1876 Scott Richardson (R-013) Enacted Chaptered Effective Dates: 08/04/2025 (Updated) Model Training and Content Generated by Generative AI Relates to the ownership of model training and content generated by a generative artificial intelligence tool; provides that, with certain exceptions, when a person uses a generative artificial intelligence tool to generate content, the person who pr... More Text
Versions: Enacted - Apr 21, 2025 View in PDF Added | Deleted | Vetoed
Act 927 of the Regular Session

State of Arkansas

As Engrossed: H4/7/25

95th General Assembly

Regular Session, 2025

A Bill

HOUSE BILL 1876

By: Representative R. Scott Richardson

By: Senator J. Bryant

For An Act To Be Entitled

AN ACT REGARDING THE OWNERSHIP OF MODEL TRAINING AND CONTENT GENERATED BY A GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOL; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

Subtitle

REGARDING THE OWNERSHIP OF MODEL TRAINING AND CONTENT GENERATED BY A GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TOOL.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 18, Chapter 4, Subchapter 1 is amended to add an additional section to read as follows:

18-4-101. Generative artificial intelligence tool — Ownership of model training and generated content — Work made for hire — Exceptions.

(a) Except as provided under subsection (b) of this section, when a person uses a generative artificial intelligence tool to:

(1) Generate content, the person who provides the input or directive to the generative artificial intelligence tool shall be the owner of the generated content, provided that the content does not infringe on existing copyrights or intellectual property rights;

(2) Conduct model training, the person who provides data or input to train a generative artificial intelligence model shall be the owner of the resulting trained model, provided that the:

(A) Training data is lawfully acquired; and

(B) Person has not transferred ownership rights through a contract or agreement.

(b)(1) If an individual is employed by a person or entity and is directed to use a generative artificial intelligence tool to conduct model training or generate content as part of his or her employment duties, the resulting model training data and generated content shall be the property of the individual's employer.

(2) Subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall apply only if the use of the generative artificial intelligence tool is:

(A) Within the scope of the individual's employment; and

(B) Conducted under the direction and control of the employer.

(c) This section does not grant ownership over content that infringes on pre-existing copyrights or other intellectual property rights regardless of the use of a generative artificial intelligence tool.