OpenAI recently achieved a legal victory in its ongoing disputes with publishers regarding the use of creative works by AI. On November 7, a judge dismissed a copyright infringement case against OpenAI filed by publishers Alternet and Raw Story. This dismissal is significant in the context of the broader legal challenges that AI companies face concerning copyright issues.
The case centered on accusations that OpenAI had illegally scraped thousands of news articles while removing copyright management information (CMI) such as the author’s name and work title. The publishers sought damages of at least $2,500 for each violation, alleging that OpenAI’s practices resulted in ChatGPT summarizing and distributing their content without proper attribution.
OpenAI countered that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing, claiming they did not provide evidence that their materials were used in the training of ChatGPT or that any harm was caused. The ruling from Judge Colleen McMahon of the US Southern District of New York aligned with OpenAI’s arguments, resulting in the case being thrown out due to lack of standing.
Despite this setback, Raw Story’s CEO, John Byrne, confirmed intentions to continue pursuing the case, seeking permission to file an amended complaint. Matt Topic, a partner at the law firm representing Raw Story, expressed confidence in addressing the court’s concerns in a new filing.
Legal experts have differing opinions on the implications of this dismissal. While some argue that the publishers need to show concrete examples of infringement, others suggest this ruling could set a precedent that limits the ability of publishers to sue AI companies over model training. Judge McMahon emphasized the broader issue at stake: publishers seek to be compensated for their works used to develop AI, rather than just addressing the exclusion of CMI.
The outcome of this case is part of a larger trend of copyright lawsuits impacting AI startups, highlighting ongoing tensions between traditional media and new technological platforms. The legal community continues to watch as these cases evolve and the courts clarify the intersection of copyright law and artificial intelligence.
