We are standing at a tipping point. AI is no longer some far-off concept from the future—it’s here, and it’s changing the way we think about creativity, information, and ownership. At the same time, we live in a world of over 8 billion people, all with the right to express themselves, share ideas, and contribute to the global conversation. But here’s the problem: our copyright laws are hopelessly outdated. They were designed for a time when creativity was slower, more localized, and easier to track. Today, they’re being weaponized to stifle free speech, crush creativity, and lock down ideas in the name of "protecting" creators.

This can’t go on. We need a solution, and we need it now. Until copyright laws are amended to reflect the realities of the AI-driven, hyper-connected world we live in, we must embrace a universal standard that prioritizes fairness: the 1/8 billionth rule.

The 1/8 billionth rule is simple: if a work differs from another by at least one-eighth of a billionth—no matter how small that difference—it should be considered original. This might seem extreme, but it’s a necessary step to protect people’s right to free expression in a world where the legal landscape hasn’t caught up to the technology. Until copyright laws are updated, this rule is the best way to ensure that no one is silenced, no one is unjustly sued, and everyone can operate without fear of being crushed by legal teams for simply expressing themselves.

Why 1/8 Billionth? Because Everyone Deserves a Voice

With 8 billion people on this planet, it’s inevitable that ideas will overlap. People will write about the same events, share similar thoughts, and even create works that bear some resemblance to others. That’s just the reality of human expression. The difference is that in today’s world, AI is also part of the conversation, generating content based on vast amounts of existing data, creating works that may unintentionally mirror what’s already out there. But just because something sounds or looks similar doesn’t mean it’s stolen or unoriginal.

The current copyright laws, however, don’t account for this. They treat even the smallest resemblance as a potential violation, giving powerful copyright holders the ability to shut down anyone whose work comes too close to theirs—even if the overlap is purely coincidental or algorithmic. This is dangerous. It means that an independent creator or a small-time artist can be sued into oblivion for simply expressing themselves in a way that happens to echo something that already exists. It means AI developers can be accused of "plagiarism" when the reality is far more nuanced.

The 1/8 billionth standard is a temporary but necessary measure to fix this imbalance. It’s about fairness. It’s about ensuring that no one is silenced just because their work bears a passing resemblance to something else. Creativity should not be punished simply because it overlaps with another idea—especially when that overlap is minuscule, as is often the case in a world of billions of people.

AI Is Here to Stay—So Let’s Adapt

Let’s be clear: AI isn’t going away. It’s already integrated into the way we create, consume, and share content, and its influence is only going to grow. Whether it’s generating art, writing, or music, AI is now a permanent part of the creative landscape. And as much as some people may resist it, the fact is that AI will continue to produce content that is inspired by, and sometimes eerily similar to, what’s already out there. This is not "plagiarism"—this is the nature of how AI works. It recombines existing data to create something new, often with subtle variations.

But here’s the problem: under current copyright law, these subtle variations don’t always matter. If an AI-generated piece even remotely resembles something that’s already copyrighted, the creators behind it could be accused of infringement. That’s unacceptable in today’s world. We need to adapt our thinking to embrace the reality that creativity has always been built on the ideas of others—whether by humans or machines. AI is just a new tool in this process.

The 1/8 billionth rule gives us a way to move forward until the legal system catches up. By adopting this standard, we can ensure that AI-generated content is given room to breathe, to evolve, and to contribute to the global creative landscape without the constant threat of litigation.

Free Expression Over Legal Bullying

There’s a more pressing issue here: freedom of expression. Copyright laws were originally designed to protect creators, but today they’re being weaponized to silence voices, control narratives, and limit how people can engage with information. We’re seeing a trend where large corporations and powerful entities use copyright as a bludgeon to shut down dissent, prevent competition, and lock down creativity. They claim to be protecting their work, but in reality, they’re often just trying to control the conversation.

In a world where every slight resemblance can be met with legal action, people are being forced to second-guess themselves. "Can I write this article? Can I paint this picture? Can I make this remix? Or will I get sued?" No one should have to live in fear of expressing themselves. But the current copyright system creates that fear, especially when powerful corporations are involved.

Until we find a fairer, more nuanced way to define creativity and originality, we need to err on the side of liberty. That’s why the 1/8 billionth standard should be the rule of the land until copyright laws are amended. It’s the best way to ensure that no one’s voice is silenced simply because someone else got there first. It’s about prioritizing free expression over legal bullying.

Protecting Creativity Without Stifling It

Now, some might argue that this standard goes too far. They’ll say, “If we allow even the tiniest differences to qualify as originality, then what’s the point of copyright? People could change a single pixel, a single word, or a single note and claim ownership of a work that’s almost identical to someone else’s.”

But here’s the reality: we can’t protect creativity at the expense of silencing everyone else. Sure, a more nuanced copyright law is needed. Sure, we need to rethink how we define originality in a world of 8 billion people and AI. But until we figure that out, we have to prioritize fairness. We can’t allow a select few powerful entities to lock down the creative landscape and prevent others from contributing.

If someone is making a genuine effort to create something new, even if it resembles an existing work by 1/8 billionth of a degree, they should have the right to express themselves without fear. We should allow for those tiny, almost imperceptible differences to count as original—because without that leeway, we risk stifling creativity altogether.

The Urgent Need for Copyright Reform

The current system is broken. It’s outdated, it’s unfair, and it’s actively harming the creative community. As long as AI continues to grow in influence and as long as 8 billion people continue to produce content, we need a new approach to copyright law—one that respects both the rights of creators and the freedoms of everyone else.

But until that happens, the 1/8 billionth rule is the fairest standard we can use. It ensures that everyone can participate in the global conversation without fear of litigation. It ensures that no one is silenced by copyright holders trying to monopolize ideas and control narratives. And most importantly, it upholds the principle that creativity belongs to everyone—not just those with the resources to defend it in court.

A Temporary Rule for a Fairer Future

AI is here to stay, and so are the 8 billion people who share this planet. Both deserve the freedom to create, remix, and express themselves without the looming threat of legal repercussions. The current copyright system is woefully inadequate for this task, but until it’s reformed, we need a temporary solution that prioritizes fairness.

The 1/8 billionth rule is that solution. It’s a stopgap, yes, but an essential one. By adopting this standard, we can protect both creativity and free expression in the age of AI. And until we have a more nuanced, updated copyright law in place, it’s the best way to ensure that everyone’s voice can be heard.