Harnessing GenAI in Your Academic Journey

It is essential to be aware of the copyright implications associated with the use of GenAI tools. Please exercise caution and responsibility when using Generative AI tools to ensure compliance with copyright laws. The following outlines key considerations regarding both the input and output of information.

Input Considerations

• Many GenAI platforms permit the upload of materials for processing. However, resources provided by our library are governed by licensing terms that often prohibit the uploading of copyrighted materials to third-party platforms, including AI tools. Uploading such materials may constitute a copyright infringement.

• You should review the terms and conditions of the information provider before inputting or uploading copyrighted content. Terms and conditions for our library materials can be found from the pages of the corresponding database.

    FAQ: Can I upload Library materials to AI tools for educational / research purposes?
   
  Before uploading library materials to other 3rd party platforms, including AI tools, other than checking the terms and conditions of the information provider, the material type and conditions may offer you some more ideas.

  If you have doubts in identifying the material type, your faculty librarian will be happy to help.

  Material Type	Conditions
  Subscription-based	Subject to vendor and publisher terms, which licensing agreements generally do NOT allow sharing of full-texts with third-party platforms.
  CC-licensed (Commonly adopted for Open Access publications)	Must comply with the specific Creative Commons license terms, for example: CC BY: Allows adaptation and commercial use with attribution CC BY-NC: Permits non-commercial use with attribution  .. and more Learn more: Understanding CC Licenses and Generative AI

  You may also consider these safer alternatives:
  (1) Summarize your own notes with citations as the input for AI tools. The process will also sharpen your critical thinking skills.
  (2) Provide the DOI or link to the publication instead of uploading full-text content. For example, research AI tools, like Scite Assistant, allow you to input DOIs in the settings, which the AI will access publication content within their database, if available.

Output Considerations

• Large Language Models (LLMs) may be trained on copyrighted materials, which raises the risk of infringing on the rights of original content creators.

• Engaging with AI-generated content that replicates or closely mirrors copyrighted works can expose you to legal repercussions. Always consider the potential copyright implications before using such content. 

Current Legal Landscape

The rapid advancement of AI technologies has outpaced existing copyright laws, not only in Hong Kong, but worldwide, creating uncertainties around the use of AI-generated content. The Hong Kong government has recently completed a public consultation aimed at enhancing the Copyright Ordinance in relation to AI. The outcomes of the consultation and proposed enhancement were documented in this paper in Feb 2025. Stay informed about these developments!

Research Data often includes personal or sensitive information. You should consider the following when using GenAI to handle such data:

Understand Data Protection

Take the time to understand and get familiarized with how your inputs are used, stored  processed, and protected, through checking the information provided by the AI platform. 

Limit Data Exposure

Whenever possible, limit the amount of personal or sensitive data shared with AI tools. Consider using pseudonymized, anonymized data or aggregated information to reduce the risk of exposure. Avoid input any identifiable or sensitive information to AI platforms without any transparent compliance with data protection regulations.