In a significant legal move, eight major US newspapers, including The New York Daily News and The Chicago Tribune, have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. The complaint alleges that the two companies used the newspapers’ copyrighted content without permission to train the AI chatbots ChatGPT and Copilot.
The Players Behind the Lawsuit
The newspapers involved are all owned by Alden Global Capital, a Florida-based hedge fund that formed the second-largest newspaper group in the United States when it acquired the Tribune publishing chain in 2021. Other newspapers joining the lawsuit include The Orlando Sentinel, The Sun Sentinel of Florida, The San Jose Mercury News, The Denver Post, The Orange County Register, and The St. Paul Pioneer Press.
Accusations and Concerns
The lawsuit claims that OpenAI and Microsoft illegally used millions of copyrighted articles from these newspapers to enhance their AI chatbots. The filing points out that the two companies did not seek the publishers’ consent or offer compensation for the content used. Additionally, the lawsuit accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of misrepresenting the newspapers’ reporting, including presenting verbatim excerpts from full articles and providing misleading or incorrect information.
OpenAI’s Response
In a statement, OpenAI emphasized its efforts to support news organizations, highlighting its collaborations and discussions with media outlets worldwide. OpenAI didn’t directly address the specific accusations in the lawsuit but noted its commitment to fostering constructive relationships with news organizations.
Partnerships vs. Litigation
While some media outlets have chosen to pursue legal action against OpenAI, others have entered partnerships with the AI company instead. These include prominent publications such as The Associated Press, Financial Times, Germany’s Axel Springer, French daily Le Monde, and Spanish conglomerate Prisa Media.
Parallels to Previous Legal Battles
The lawsuit filed on Tuesday shares similarities with a case brought against OpenAI by The New York Times in December. In that case, OpenAI pushed back against the allegations, arguing that its use of publicly available data, including news articles, for AI training falls under the fair use doctrine. OpenAI also accused The New York Times of violating ChatGPT’s user guidelines to create content that would support its case.
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Microsoft’s Stance
When asked for a comment on the lawsuit, Microsoft chose not to respond.
The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for the future of AI development and the use of copyrighted content in training advanced technologies. As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to keep an eye on how these legal arguments shape the landscape of AI and media collaborations.
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