More authors join ChatGPT copyright lawsuit
The lawsuit filed against OpenAI by author and Hollywood reporter Julia Sancton has gained traction as more authors join the legal battle. The case centers around allegations that OpenAI’s language model, ChatGPT, violates creative copyrights through its web scraping-based training process.
Pulitzer prize-winning plaintiffs argue that OpenAI’s use of web scraping to train its AI model infringes on their ownership of original material. They claim that their writing is being misused and are seeking injunctive relief to prevent the company from using their work in the future.
The class action lawsuit targets both OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the two entities have built a business worth tens of billions of dollars by unlawfully utilizing the collective works of humanity without permission.
According to the lawsuit, OpenAI and Microsoft have disregarded copyright laws and refuse to pay for intellectual property. The plaintiffs argue that the foundation of the OpenAI platform relies on the extensive appropriation of copyrighted content.
This groundbreaking lawsuit is the first to jointly target Microsoft and OpenAI, asserting that Microsoft’s significant investment in OpenAI makes it partially liable.
The case is part of a larger trend of legal disputes arising from the application of copyright law to artificial intelligence. In a similar lawsuit in September 2023, the Authors Guild, representing renowned authors like George RR Martin, took legal action against OpenAI. The Guild’s CEO, Mary Rasenberger, highlighted that generative AIs are capable of producing material derived from existing works rather than creating original content.
The core argument is that AI-generated responses should be treated as licensed content rather than original works, potentially implicating AI users in acts of plagiarism even with proper attribution.
The legal implications will depend on understanding how the training process functions in relation to existing laws in different countries, stated Simon Barker, Partner and Head of Intellectual Property at law firm Freeths.
Barker also emphasized the broader policy questions governments must face when deciding whether to tighten AI system training regulations or favor deregulation to support AI development.
These lawsuits could result in increased regulation for companies like OpenAI, which could subsequently impact their relationship with governmental organizations. While tech companies generally oppose heavy regulation, governments face difficult choices when determining how far they should go in regulating language models to protect copyright owners.
This news highlights the ongoing battle between creative rights holders and AI technology, ultimately shaping the future of AI development and the boundaries of copyright law in the digital era.
