The New York Times has taken legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that both companies unlawfully used millions of NYT articles to train their AI models. The lawsuit, filed in a US court, claims that these actions were done without permission, aiming to create AI-powered products without fair compensation.
This lawsuit brings to light a growing conflict regarding copyright in the realm of advanced AI technology. More and more, creators like publishers, artists, and musicians are resorting to legal means to ensure proper compensation for their content used in developing AI models.
The heart of the Times' complaint revolves around protecting independent journalism. They argue that allowing unrestricted use of their content poses a threat to the quality and quantity of news produced, ultimately harming society.
The Times seeks damages and an injunction against further use of its content. They highlight the significant financial impact of the infringement, estimating potential damages in the billions. Despite attempts to negotiate, OpenAI and Microsoft claimed their use of Times' content was "transformative" and didn't require a commercial arrangement. However, the lawsuit disputes this, stating that using the content without compensation for competing products is not transformative but detrimental.
Moreover, the Times claims that AI-generated content closely imitated its style and sometimes attributed false information to the publication. Experts foresee more legal battles over content rights as the vast archives of news become increasingly valuable for training AI models.
This legal dispute isn't unique. Authors, musicians, and image distributors have initiated similar lawsuits against AI companies for copyright infringement. Tech giants like Microsoft and Google have pledged to cover legal expenses for their corporate customers facing such claims related to AI-generated content.
