- – The New York Times has taken legal action against Microsoft and OpenAI for unauthorized use of its articles in building AI models.
- – The lawsuit highlights the unauthorized use of “millions” of copyrighted articles by Microsoft and OpenAI.
- – The legal battle seeks damages, a jury trial, and the destruction of all AI models and training sets that incorporate Times’ works without permission.
- – The NYT’s legal action underscores its determination to protect its content and maintain control over its commercial use.
- – The lawsuit exemplifies the ongoing struggle between media outlets and technology companies over the rights to copyrighted material and the broader implications of AI models built on unauthorized content.
The Lawsuit Battle
The New York Times has taken legal action against Microsoft and OpenAI, claiming the use of its articles for training their AI models violated copyright laws. This marks the first time a major American media outlet has filed a lawsuit against tech companies over the unauthorized use of its content in building large language models (LLMs).
The complaint alleges that Microsoft, through its investment in OpenAI, incorporated Times’ articles into various services, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot and Bing Chat, without proper authorization. It asserts that these actions include the display of Times’ content in generative output and synthetic search results, all derived from the copyrighted material.
NYT’s Discontent
The lawsuit emphasizes the unauthorized use of “millions” of copyrighted articles by Microsoft and OpenAI for building their AI models and generating content without consent. It particularly highlights the paywall-dodging tactic by OpenAI, which has raised concerns regarding the exploitation of Times’ content and circumvention of its subscription model.
The complaint provides examples of ChatGPT being trained on Times’ content and demonstrates how the AI model produces responses containing copyrighted text. The NYT claims that its paywall system has been undermined by unlicensed usage of its articles in the AI models.
The Legal Battle
Having made efforts to resolve the matter amicably, the NYT filed a complaint against what it describes as “a business model based on mass copyright infringement.” The lawsuit explains the progression of OpenAI from a non-profit research organization to a multi-billion-dollar for-profit business allegedly built on unlicensed exploitation of copyrighted works, including those belonging to The Times.
The lawsuit seeks damages, a jury trial, and the destruction of all AI models and training sets that incorporate Times’ works without permission. The legal battle highlights the potential impact of unauthorized content usage on the media industry and aims to hold tech companies accountable for copyright infringement.
Seeking a Resolution
While other media entities like Axel Springer have reached agreements with OpenAI, the NYT’s legal action underscores its determination to protect its content and maintain control over its commercial use. The case highlights the evolving dynamics between media organizations and tech giants in the digital age and raises questions about the ethical and legal implications of AI training data sources.
In conclusion, the lawsuit exemplifies the ongoing struggle between media outlets and technology companies over the rights to copyrighted material and the broader implications of AI models built on unauthorized content. As the legal battle unfolds, it may set significant precedents in the intersection of intellectual property rights and AI development.
