The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of copyright infringement and seeking to put an end to the practice of using the newspaper’s stories to train chatbots. The Times claims that the damages from copyright infringements alone could be worth billions.
This legal action comes as numerous individuals and publishers are attempting to stop OpenAI from using copyrighted material. The rise of artificial intelligence technology has posed a significant threat to various industries, including media, as it enables companies to scrape information, including articles published by news organizations, to train generative AI chatbots.
The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI’s GPT-4 falsely attributed product recommendations to Wirecutter, the paper’s product reviews site, damaging its reputation. The Times is seeking the destruction of GPT and other large language models or training sets that incorporate its work.
OpenAI and Microsoft have not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. Microsoft has a partnership with OpenAI and is the company’s biggest investor. Through this partnership, Microsoft utilizes OpenAI’s AI technology in its own products and provides supercomputers for OpenAI’s research.
The New York Times is not the only entity taking legal action against OpenAI for copyright infringement. Comedian Sarah Silverman and numerous other writers have also filed lawsuits claiming that OpenAI used their books without permission. Furthermore, over 4,000 writers signed a letter accusing AI developers, including OpenAI and Microsoft, of exploitative practices in building chatbots that mimic their language and ideas.
In its complaint, the Times accuses Microsoft and OpenAI of free-riding on its journalism without payment or permission. The newspaper previously engaged in talks with the two companies, raising concerns about the use of its intellectual property and seeking a fair resolution. However, these negotiations did not lead to a resolution, prompting the Times to take legal action.
The Times has not specified the damages it is seeking but aims to hold OpenAI and Microsoft responsible for the unlawful copying and use of its valuable works. This lawsuit sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by media organizations as they navigate the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and seek to protect their intellectual property.
Overall, the lawsuit filed by The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft underscores the growing concerns surrounding the use of copyrighted material and the impact of artificial intelligence on various industries, including the media. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for the future of AI technology and the protection of intellectual property rights.
