The Center for Investigative Reporting, known for producing Mother Jones and Reveal, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft in federal court on Thursday. The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement on a massive scale, accusing the companies of using CIR’s content without permission to train AI models.
According to CIR CEO Monika Bauerlein, OpenAI and Microsoft used the newsroom’s stories to enhance their products without obtaining consent or offering compensation. Bauerlein expressed concern that such actions not only violate copyright laws but also devalue the work of journalists in an era where truthful information is crucial.
The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan’s federal court, targets OpenAI and Microsoft for multiple violations of the Copyright Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This legal action reflects a growing trend of publishers taking generative AI companies to court over similar issues.
While some publishers have opted to strike licensing deals with OpenAI, others like The New York Times, New York Daily News, The Intercept, AlterNet, and Chicago Tribune have chosen to pursue legal action. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for the future relationship between news organizations and generative AI technology.
