Powerful and fascinating, artificial intelligence highlights many ethical and legal issues. This is the case of Watermark Remover.io, which removes watermarks from protected images in seconds, in violation of copyright.
While artificial intelligence is experiencing incredible technological advances, its evolution is gradually raising many problems, particularly with regard to the creative industry. This is the case of image generators like DALL-E or Midjourney, which are regularly accused of violating copyrights. Indeed, as their operation is based on machine learning, and therefore on the processing of a large number of artists’ images found on the Internet, they end up in a way “copying” them, and this while They are not royalty free ! And as much to say that things are not likely to improve with this free service capable of completely removing watermarks from photos. Called Watermark Remover.io and available via website or Android app, it has become a copyright nightmare!
Watermark Remover.io: the copyright problem
When someone wants to illustrate his website, he must use images he has produced himself, royalty-free images or use an image bank, such as Shutterstock or Adobe Stock for example. But to prevent someone from using it without paying – by taking a screenshot for example – the latter apply pretty watermarks to the photos, which generally take the form of a small grid with the name of the site which resells the image, rendering it unusable. These watermarks are often the only thing protecting the work of the photographer. Therefore, the arrival of a free tool capable of removing them with a single click is particularly worrying for the creative community.
Watermark Remover.io is extremely easy to use – and that’s the problem. Just go to the site, drop the image with the watermark – it supports png, jpeg, jpg or even webp – and click on the button. In just a few seconds, the AI ”cleans” the snapshot, and all you have to do is download it. And the result is truly impressive! The developers go one step further by offering paid subscriptions so that they can erase IP marks en masse. In itself, the technology is nothing revolutionary. It is found in many software and applications, where it allows you to erase unwanted objects or people from the background of photos, as with Photoshop for example. However, these tools are usually not as accessible as Watermark Remover.io – plus they are often paid – which does all the work for free with just one click.
Watermark Remover.io: the need for an AI framework
The problem with this kind of artificial intelligence is therefore really ethical, even legal. Indeed, deleting a watermark without the consent of the original owner is illegal in many countries and depends on the use made of it. By contrast, tools that circumvent copyright protections are not necessarily illegal themselves.
The Watermark Remover.io FAQ makes it clear that users should not “remove watermarks from copyrighted images” and that permission must be obtained from the owner before removing any watermark and using the photo for commercial purposes. In case of violation of the law, it is not the tool that will be blamed, but the users, who are the “solely responsible for any claims, damages, costs, expenses, lawsuits, etc. brought by any third party in connection with the use of the images resulting from the removal of the watermarks.“With the explosion in its use, AI technology calls more than ever for strong and clear regulations. In France, the CNIL has already taken the lead by creating an artificial intelligence service (SIA), which will have to try to answer the various questions and above all to frame the use of AI in the future.