The New York Times had sued OpenAI in December 2023, alleging copyright infringement
OpenAI Challenges New York Times in Copyright Dispute
A legal dispute between OpenAI and The New York Times escalated when the newspaper sued OpenAI in December 2023, accusing it of copyright infringement. The Times alleged that OpenAI, along with Microsoft, used its extensive archive of articles to train ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence model.
In response, OpenAI contested the lawsuit, challenging The Times to substantiate the originality of its articles. OpenAI’s legal team filed a request on Monday, asking for specific evidence such as reporters’ notes, interview memos, and records of materials cited for each disputed work. They clarified that confidential information, like sources’ names, was not requested.
The Times responded on Wednesday, criticizing OpenAI’s demand for extensive documentation as excessive and retaliatory. The newspaper argued that OpenAI’s request was unprecedented and overly broad, aimed at harassing them for filing the lawsuit.
In their filing, The Times emphasized that OpenAI’s pursuit of such comprehensive discovery was unwarranted under federal rules and lacked legal precedent. They characterized it as a form of harassment rather than a legitimate legal inquiry.
The legal battle underscores growing concerns in the media industry about protecting intellectual property rights against technological advancements in artificial intelligence. OpenAI faces similar copyright challenges from other U.S. media organizations, including the Center for Investigative Reporting, highlighting broader industry scrutiny over AI’s use of journalistic content.
