NY Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft for Copyright Violation

The New York Times has taken legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging the unauthorized use of millions of its articles to introduce their AI models.

The lawsuit, filed in a United States court, claims that OpenAI and Microsoft used the Times’ content without permission, seeking to create AI-driven developments without proper compensation.

The lawsuit emphasizes the growing battle over copyright in AI technology. Publishers, artists, and musicians increasingly turn to legal routes to provide fair compensation for their content when developing AI models.

The Times’ objection stressed the importance of protecting independent journalism. It claims that allowing free use of its content threatens the quality and amount of news delivered, eventually spoiling society at large.

Pursuing both damages and a request against further use of its content, the Times highlights the potentially huge financial effect of the breach. The lawsuit claims the companies’ actions could amount to substantial statutory and actual injuries, potentially in the billions.

Despite trying to negotiate a content agreement, OpenAI (ChatGPT) and Microsoft reportedly claimed that their use of Times’ content was “transformative” and didn’t need a commercial arrangement. The lawsuit argues this claim, saying that using the Times’ content without settlement to create contending products isn’t transformative but destructive.

Also, the Times alleges that AI-generated content closely imitated its style and occasionally incorrectly attributed false information to the publication. The value of news archives is highly useful for training AI models, raising the likelihood of future legal battles over content rights.

This legal conflict is not an isolated incident. Other notable sculptures and companies, including authors, musicians, and image distributors, have initiated lawsuits against AI companies for copyright violations. In reply, technology giants like Microsoft and Google have committed to covering legal fees for their corporate clients facing parallel copyright violation claims related to AI-generated content.