An AI image on a title slide or an AI-generated background sound can make a presentation look quick and professional. Copyright quickly becomes confusing, though: who owns the result, what may you do with it, and must you label it? This guide sorts out the most important questions for AI images and music, with a focus on presentations and term papers at German universities.
Short answer: German copyright law protects only personal intellectual creations (section 2(2) of the Copyright Act, UrhG). The raw output of a prompt is therefore usually not protected. The provider’s terms of use still apply, and third-party works that an AI visibly reproduces remain protected. Last updated: October 2026, based on the statutory text accessed for this guide.
The key points
- Copyright arises only for human creations. An AI image without clearly visible human design is usually not a protected work.
- Even unprotected results are subject to the provider’s terms, and these differ between free and paid plans.
- An AI result can closely resemble a known work. In that case the same rules apply as for any third-party work.
- Your own editing can establish protection. How much design is needed depends on the individual case.
- Label the use of AI and check what your university requires. The rules differ between subjects.
When is an AI image protected by copyright?
The Copyright Act states: “Works within the meaning of this Act are only personal intellectual creations” (section 2(2) UrhG). Protection therefore does not attach to the result as such, but to a human achievement that designs, selects and makes decisions. A simple prompt such as “city at night” is, according to the prevailing view, not regarded as a creation of your own, because the model determines the result.
It looks different if you change the image significantly: you paint over it, combine elements, build a collage or rework it over many steps. Whether protection then arises can only be judged case by case. Case law here is still developing. For that reason, record your design steps in case you later have to show what you contributed yourself.
Who may use AI images and AI music?
Whether and how you may use the results is first determined by the provider’s terms of use. They often regulate which rights you receive in the output, whether it may be used commercially and whether labelling is required. Free plans often come with different conditions from paid plans, so read the terms for your specific plan.
For a seminar presentation, this is usually straightforward. As soon as you publish slides or the talk, for example on a website, a portal or in a video, the question becomes more important. Then even a background track or an image that is very close to a known work can become a problem.
Which cases are typical in presentations?
The table shows typical situations and a practical way to handle them.
| Case | Legal framework | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| AI title image, generated from a prompt only | Usually no copyright of your own, observe the terms of use | Name the tool and version, keep the prompt in your notes |
| AI image that you substantially rework | Your own design can establish protection, extent depends on the case | Document your design steps and keep the stages |
| Third-party photo altered with AI | Editing a protected work without consent is problematic | Use a licensed image or your own photo |
| AI music as background | Usage rights depend on provider and plan, publication is assessed differently | Check licence terms, replace the music when publishing |
| Quotation of an image with source | Quotation right under section 51 UrhG requires a protected work | Always give the source, even if the work seems unprotected |
Why does AI music require particular care?
Music is often the mood setter in a presentation, and that is exactly where things get tricky. An AI can imitate styles, timbres or melodies that come very close to a known piece. Even a short excerpt of a third-party work can be relevant under copyright, whether it was made by hand or by a machine. For your slides, this means using background music only with clearly regulated rights and avoiding voices or titles that visibly imitate known people or pieces. With voices there is also the right of personality, because the voice of a recognisable person must not be reproduced without consent.
What does the EU AI Act change?
Article 50 of the EU AI Regulation sets out transparency obligations, for example for AI-generated content and deepfakes. According to the IHK guidance, they apply from 2 August 2026. These obligations are aimed mainly at providers and deployers of AI systems and only apply in certain cases. For your presentation, the examination regulations and the rules of your department are therefore usually the more important yardstick.
How do you label AI images correctly?
- Name the tool on the slide or in the caption, for example “AI-generated with …”.
- Save the prompt and the output with the date in your records.
- Keep the terms of use that apply to your plan.
- Check whether your university requires a particular form of labelling and follow it.
How to cite sources in the text and the bibliography is explained in our guide Citing AI Output: What University Guidelines Recommend (in German).
Frequently asked questions
May I use AI images in a presentation?
In a seminar, this is usually possible if the use is permitted and you give the source. Whether it is acceptable also depends on what your lecturer allows, so ask beforehand if in doubt.
Do I own the AI image that I created with my prompt?
Ownership in the narrow sense is not the yardstick here. What matters is whether copyright arises, and with a simple prompt it usually does not. The provider’s terms still determine what you may do with the image.
Must I label AI music in a presentation?
That depends on your university and on the type of publication. Labelling is in any case transparent and avoids follow-up questions. Then name the tool and the plan.
Does it help to list the tool in the bibliography?
A bibliography entry does not replace clarifying the rights. It does show where the material comes from, which is an important basis for transparency. Name the tool, the version, the date of creation and the provider. For images, keep the prompt in your notes rather than necessarily on the slide.
What if an AI image looks very similar to a known work?
Then a problem can exist, even if you did not copy the image on purpose. Check the result with a reverse image search and replace conspicuously similar images with your own or licensed material.
What to do now
- Read the terms of use of the tool for your plan before you use any output.
- Document the prompt, version and date and save every design stage.
- Label the use of AI on the slide and check your university’s requirements.
- Replace images or music before publication with material whose rights are clear if you have doubts.
What happens after your studies?
The terms of use stay with you beyond your studies. If you use AI images in application portfolios, websites or client presentations, a seminar talk is not the standard to go by. Check the terms for commercial use and the plan you actually pay for before you publish anything.
Related guides
- AI Use in Studies: Rules, Disclosure and Tools
- AI in Term Papers: What Is Allowed and What You Must Disclose
- Citing AI Output: What University Guidelines Recommend
- Citing Made Easy: The Key Rules at a Glance (in German)
- AI in Studies: What Is Allowed and How to Use Tools Properly (in German)
Sources: Section 2 UrhG, works (German, accessed October 2026) · Section 51 UrhG, quotations (German, accessed October 2026) · Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, AI Act, Article 50 (EUR-Lex) · IHK Nürnberg, transparency and labelling obligations from 2 August (German, accessed October 2026)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
