The New York Times has taken legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging copyright infringement over the utilization of its content to train artificial intelligence models. Filed in a Manhattan federal court, the lawsuit claims that while these companies compiled data from various sources, they heavily relied on New York Times material without permission or compensation.
The lawsuit contends that the unauthorized use of the Times' copyrighted articles and content for AI development undermines the newspaper's ability to deliver its services. Emphasizing the significance of independent journalism in democracy, the lawsuit highlights the unique value of the Times' reporting.
This legal move by the publisher echoes similar cases, including actions by authors and other entities concerned about the proliferation of AI systems using copyrighted material without proper authorization.
There’s growing concern around AI models using content without providing proper credit or incentives to access the original sources. Despite ongoing discussions between the New York Times and OpenAI, marked by attempts to find a resolution, the lawsuit emerged following a deadlock in negotiations.
The lawsuit also raises concerns about AI-generated "hallucinations," instances where false information gets linked incorrectly to a source. It points to instances on Microsoft's Bing Chat where content was attributed to the Times inaccurately.
While the lawsuit doesn’t specify a monetary claim, it urges accountability from OpenAI (valued at $80 billion) and Microsoft (valued at $2.8 trillion) for significant statutory and actual damages. It also demands the destruction of any AI models or training data utilizing copyrighted material from the Times.
Amidst these tensions, OpenAI has announced partnerships aimed at addressing concerns over content usage. One recent collaboration involves working with Axel Springer, a major German publishing company, to incorporate authoritative content into ChatGPT while ensuring proper attribution and transparency to original sources.
Microsoft has yet to comment on the lawsuit, while OpenAI expressed surprise and disappointment over the legal action, citing ongoing, constructive discussions with the New York Times.
