
(Scypre.com) – The New York Times has taken legal action against Microsoft and OpenAI, the developer of the ChatGPT AI chatbot. The newspaper accuses the companies of copyright infringement and misusing its intellectual property to train large language models. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeks “billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages” for the alleged “unlawful copying and use of The Times’s uniquely valuable works.”
In response to the lawsuit, The Times acknowledged the potential of AI for the public and journalism but emphasized the importance of obtaining permission for commercial use of journalistic material. The newspaper argued that copyright law protects its journalism and content, stating, “If Microsoft and OpenAI want to use our work for commercial purposes, the law requires that they first obtain our permission. They have not done so.”
OpenAI expressed surprise and disappointment at the development, highlighting ongoing productive conversations with The New York Times. The organization emphasized its commitment to respecting the rights of content creators and owners, expressing hope for a mutually beneficial resolution.
The legal proceedings involve Susman Godfrey, the litigation firm that represented Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation suit against Fox News. This firm is also representing The Times and other writers in a separate lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging the unauthorized use of copyrighted materials to train ChatGPT.
The lawsuit reflects a broader trend in which media organizations seek compensation from AI model developers for allegedly using their content without permission. The Times accused Microsoft and OpenAI of engaging in a “mass copyright infringement” business model, asserting that their AI systems create reproductions of its intellectual property for GPT models.
Concerns among publishers include potential decreases in website traffic and revenue as generative AI chatbots produce content that may resemble source materials. The lawsuit includes examples of GPT-4 generating altered versions of Times’ content, with claims that the AI models compete directly with The Times and limit its commercial opportunities by altering content and removing links to products.
The lawsuit underscores the evolving challenges and legal considerations arising from the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright law, and journalism.