From Indian Express: 2024-04-05 23:00:30

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries by performing tasks previously thought to require human intelligence, such as passing bar exams and performing surgical procedures. However, AI faces legal challenges as novelists and newspapers, including John Grisham and The New York Times, sue companies alleging copyright infringement due to AI “ingesting” their work.

The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, accusing them of using large-language models (LLMs) built by copying millions of Times articles without permission. The NYT argues that using its content without payment has enriched the defendants, contributing to Microsoft’s trillion-dollar valuation and OpenAI’s $90 billion valuation.

In response to the fair use defense, the NYT argues that the defendants’ use of AI models is not transformative and competes with NYT’s original content, undermining the newspaper’s business. The NYT’s petition includes examples of verbatim NYT articles generated using the defendants’ AI tools, further supporting their claims.

OpenAI’s response to the allegations includes claims that the NYT paid someone to hack their products and exploit a bug, while Microsoft compares the lawsuit to the historic case involving the VCR and Hollywood’s copyright concerns. The legal battle between the parties highlights the complexities of copyright law in the age of AI.

Some news conglomerates, like Axel Springer, have embraced AI by partnering with OpenAI to enhance independent journalism. As AI continues to reshape industries, legal challenges surrounding copyright and fair use will become more prevalent, fundamentally changing how news and creative content are accessed, processed, and paid for.

Read more at Indian Express: New York Times vs OpenAI: Is there a case for copyright?