https://www.hatch.org/tags/watermarking/ Recent content in Watermarking on Steve Hatch's Blog Hugo en-us Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hatch.org/2026/08/13/fingerprinting-ai-art-is-the-new-biz-markie-ruling/ Thu, 13 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://www.hatch.org/2026/08/13/fingerprinting-ai-art-is-the-new-biz-markie-ruling/ <p><img src="https://www.hatch.org/images/fingerprinting-ai-art-is-the-new-biz-markie-ruling.png" alt="Fingerprinting AI Art Is the New Biz Markie Ruling"></p> <p>In 1991, a federal judge ruled that Biz Markie&rsquo;s use of a Gilbert O&rsquo;Sullivan sample was theft, full stop — and for the better part of a decade, hip-hop producers had to clear a sample before they could trust it wouldn&rsquo;t end their career. The technique wasn&rsquo;t illegal. But the presumption around it changed overnight, and the presumption did more damage than the ruling.</p>