The New York Times, one of the leading news publications, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for allegedly using its copyrighted articles to train their AI-powered chatbots. The lawsuit claims that the companies gave significant preference to the content of The Times when developing their large language models. The Times argues that millions of its articles were used to create competing products that could potentially harm the newspaper’s ability to provide high-quality journalism.
The lawsuit specifically mentions Microsoft’s Bing Chat and OpenAI’s ChatGPT as products that utilize The Times’ copyrighted material without permission or payment. The complaint alleges that these products generate verbatim excerpts and detailed summaries of the media outlet’s pieces.
According to The Times, the companies have failed to reach an agreement regarding the use of the copyrighted content through negotiations. The lawsuit suggests that the defendants argue their conduct falls under fair use due to the transformative purpose of using The Times’ content. However, The Times counters that their work is being used to create substitutes that steal audiences away.
The newspaper is seeking unspecified damages and a court order for the destruction of all models and training sets that incorporate The Times’ content. The publication emphasizes that generative AI products pose a threat to high-quality journalism, making it harder for news outlets to produce great journalism in an era of abandoned traditional business models and misinformation.
A spokesperson for The New York Times highlights that copyright law protects their journalism and content. They assert that Microsoft and OpenAI should have obtained permission before using their work for commercial purposes, something which they have failed to do.
The article has received mixed responses from users, with some applauding The Times’ decision to take legal action, while others criticize the publication for what they perceive as an attempt to squeeze money due to a failing business. Meanwhile, neither Microsoft nor OpenAI have responded to requests for comments on the matter.
As this legal battle unfolds, it raises important questions about the future of AI and the respect for copyrighted content. The outcome of this lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the relationship between traditional media outlets and technology companies.
