AI and Copyright: A conversation with Rachel Sweeney

In this episode of the Engaged By Design Podcast, Michael and Vernon sit down with Rachel Sweeney, Scholarly Communications Librarian at Bucknell University, for a deep and candid conversation about how generative AI is reshaping scholarship, copyright, authorship, and trust in academic knowledge.

Drawing on her background in documentary filmmaking, copyright, and publishing, Rachel explains why the scholarly record is so difficult to define—and why generative AI poses such a profound challenge to it. Together, we explore fair use, authors’ rights, AI hallucinations, fabricated citations, predatory journals, data scraping, and the market impact on creators and scholars across disciplines.

Rachel also shares practical guidance for faculty, librarians, students, and researchers who want to use AI responsibly while protecting the integrity of their work.

This is a timely and essential conversation for anyone navigating the pressures and promises of AI in higher education.

Key Topics Covered

• Rachel’s nontraditional path from filmmaking to scholarly communications

• What the “scholarly record” is—and why defining it is so complex

• How generative AI companies have used copyrighted materials in training

• The explosion of AI-generated content and its impact on academic publishing

• Why recursive AI training produces “AI slop”

• How attribution breaks down when AI scrapes content without citing it

• Copyright fundamentals and the limits of fair use

• Real-world examples from Hollywood, journalism, and academia

• The rise of fabricated citations and nonexistent DOIs

• Class action lawsuits involving monographs and AI scraping

• How scholars and students can verify sources and protect their work

• Why ORCID, DOIs, and Google Scholar profiles matter more than ever

• Ethical considerations for using AI in teaching and learning

• The market impact on early-career professionals and creative workers

• Practical tips for responsible, thoughtful, academically honest AI use

Reflection Question for Listeners

How can faculty, librarians, and students use AI more thoughtfully, ethically, and responsibly at your institution?

We invite you to reflect on this question with your colleagues and teams and consider how these insights can shape your academic and organizational practices.

Featured Guest

Rachel Sweeney
Scholarly Communications Librarian
Bucknell University

Mid-Roll Promotion

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