I think that it's absurd that we've jumped to the conclusion backpropagation in neural networks should be legally treated the same as human learning.
I mean I don't think think I could find a better description for following the derivatives of error in reproducing a set of works as creating a "derivative work".
>> ... we've jumped to the conclusion backpropagation in neural networks should be legally treated the same as human learning.
I agree. However, the reverse is also likely true, i.e., it cannot currently be denied that learning in humans is different from learning in artificial neural networks from the point of view of production of works that mix ideas/memes from several works processed/read. Surely, as the article says, copyright law talks exclusively about humans, not machines, not animals.