AI Leaders OpenAI, Microsoft Face Copyright Infringement Lawsuit From News Body. Here's How The ChatGPT-Maker Has Reacted

"The work of journalists, at CIR and everywhere, is valuable, and OpenAI and Microsoft know it," Center for Investigative Reporting CEO Monika Bauerlein stated.

The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, alleging the unauthorised use of their copyrighted material in AI training. This legal move follows similar actions by The New York Times and other media entities.

The lawsuit claims that OpenAI and Microsoft used CIR's journalistic content without permission to enhance AI models such as ChatGPT.

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Monika Bauerlein, CEO of CIR, stated, "OpenAI and Microsoft started vacuuming up our stories to make their product more powerful, but they never asked for permission or offered compensation, unlike other organisations that license our material. This free rider behaviour is not only unfair, it is a violation of copyright. The work of journalists, at CIR and everywhere, is valuable, and OpenAI and Microsoft know it.”

According to CIR, this unauthorised use harms their relationships with readers and partners and deprives them of potential revenue. For those unaware, CIR is a non-profit organisation known for its work with Mother Jones and Reveal.

How Did OpenAI React?

In response to CIR's lawsuit, an OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC, "We are working collaboratively with the news industry and partnering with global news publishers to display their content in our products like ChatGPT, including summaries, quotes, and attribution, to drive traffic back to the original articles.”

CIR Not The First Media Body To Challenge AI

This lawsuit adds CIR to a growing list of media organisations challenging OpenAI and Microsoft over copyright issues.

The New York Times, which has already invested $1 million in its legal battle, along with publications owned by Alden Global Capital such as the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, The Intercept, Raw Story, AlterNet, and The Denver Post, are also pursuing similar claims.

OpenAI Signing Deals With Handful Of Media Companies

In contrast, some media companies have chosen to sign licensing agreements with OpenAI.

Notable names include The Associated Press, Axel Springer, the Financial Times, Dotdash Meredith, News Corp, Vox Media, The Atlantic, and Time.