Copyright and the use of generative AI in software development

The integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) into software development has fundamentally changed how code is written and valued. As much as these tools have increased productivity, they have also created significant legal challenges, particularly around copyright and intellectual property rights. This thesis explores the copyright issues arising from the use of generative AI in software development. Through a comprehensive scoping review of existing literature and legal frameworks, this research aims to provide an in-depth understanding of how copyright infringement occurs in AI-assisted code generation, the mechanisms responsible for such infringement, and the various solutions proposed to detect, mitigate, and address these challenges. The research identifies five core themes which highlight the complexity in detecting AI generated code, the mechanisms of infringement, and the impact on various stakeholders. The findings contribute to ongoing debates about balancing innovation with the protection of intellectual property rights in the age of AI.