 "ANI files lawsuit against OpenAI, claims misuse of copyrighted news content")
This report has been updated. Indian news agency ANI has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, the company behind the popular artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT, accusing it of unauthorised use of its copyrighted content, The Hindustan Times reported. This marks one of the first instances of an Indian publisher taking legal action against an AI firm for alleged intellectual property violations.
The case was heard in the Delhi High Court by Justice Amit Bansal on Tuesday. The High Court issued summons to OpenAI in response to a lawsuit filed by ANI.
In its suit, ANI claims that OpenAI exploited its original news content by using it to train OpenAI’s large language models (LLMs). ANI also alleges that ChatGPT generates ANI’s news content verbatim when prompted, without obtaining proper authorisation.
Additionally, ANI accuses OpenAI of attributing false statements and fabricated news to the agency, which it claims damages its reputation and risks spreading misinformation that could lead to public disorder.
OpenAI’s response
In response, OpenAI emphasised its commitment to collaborating with news organisations globally, including those in India. The company explained that its AI models are developed using publicly accessible data and adhere to fair use principles and established legal standards. OpenAI maintains that its practices comply with legal precedents. A spokesperson from OpenAI said, “We take great care in our products and design process to support news organizations. We are actively engaged in constructive partnerships and conversations with many news organizations around the world, including India, to explore opportunities, listen to feedback, and work collaboratively. Along with our news partners, we see immense potential for AI tools like ChatGPT, including through search, to deepen publishers’ relationships with readers and enhance the news experience."
"More broadly, we build our AI models using publicly available data, in a manner protected by fair use and related principles, and supported by long-standing and widely accepted legal precedents,” they added.
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What other news outlets have sued AI firms?
This isn’t the first lawsuit concerning alleged misuse of copyrighted content by AI companies.
The New York Times filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging unauthorised use of millions of its copyrighted articles for AI training. Eight US newspapers, including the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, have also accused AI companies of copyright infringement. Both these cases are ongoing. Raw Story and AlterNet have also sued OpenAI for removing copyright management details. However, this case was dismissed by a New York federal judge.
These lawsuits underline the growing legal challenges surrounding AI and intellectual property.