The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the two companies illegally used copyrighted material to train their artificial intelligence (AI) models. The lawsuit claims that OpenAI and Microsoft used millions of copyrighted articles and material, including from The New York Times, without obtaining prior consent. The publication accuses the defendants of attempting to benefit from The Times’s substantial journalism investment without permission.
According to The New York Times, it tried to negotiate a partnership agreement with OpenAI and Microsoft to license its content before resorting to legal action. In the lawsuit, The Times provides examples of the most recent GPT-4 model producing exact replicas of its articles without any paraphrasing. The publication seeks unspecified damages and requests that the defendants cease and destroy any AI training models that utilize copyrighted New York Times content.
This lawsuit comes amidst rumors of Apple’s efforts to secure licensing agreements with various publishers for training their content on Apple’s AI models. Apple is reportedly willing to spend $50 million on multiyear deals to obtain copyrighted material for its own AI services. Publishers such as Condé Nast, NBC News, and IAC have reportedly engaged in discussions with Apple regarding licensing terms.
While no agreement has been confirmed, executives from some publishers have praised Apple for seeking prior approval to use copyrighted content for AI purposes. This recent development underscores the importance of explicit licensing agreements. Apple’s cautious approach could prove beneficial, potentially avoiding a costly and drawn-out legal battle.
Earlier reports have indicated that Apple is investing millions of dollars daily in its AI endeavors. Additionally, the company is said to have developed its own internal ChatGPT-like tool known as Apple GPT to test its AI frameworks. These frameworks are expected to power consumer-facing features slated for release next year as part of iOS 18.
The lawsuit filed by The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft highlights the significance of properly licensing copyrighted content for AI training. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome will shape the future of copyright protection in the AI industry.
