# A Paradigm for Creative Ownership

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.15971 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.15971/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 21 May 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Upskilling with Generative AI: Practices and Challenges for Freelance Knowledge Workers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.27231/) (2026)
- [Ownership in AI-Assisted Everyday Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.20658/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

As generative AI tools become embedded in creative practice, questions of ownership in co-creative contexts are pressing. Yet studies of human-AI collaboration often invoke "ownership" without definition: sometimes conflating it with other concepts, and other times leaving interpretation to participants. This inconsistency makes findings difficult to compare across or even within studies. We introduce a framework of creative ownership comprising three dimensions - Person, Process, and System - each with three subdimensions, offering a shared language for both system design and HCI research. In semi-structured interviews with 21 creative professionals, we found that participants' initial references to ownership (e.g., embodiment, control, concept) were fully encompassed by the framework, demonstrating its coverage. Once introduced, however, they also articulated and prioritized the remaining subdimensions, underscoring how the framework expands reflection and enables richer insights. Our contributions include 1) the framework, 2) a web-based visualization tool, and 3) empirical findings on its utility.