A coalition of eight American newspapers has taken legal action against tech giants OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the companies have been unlawfully appropriating copyrighted news content to enhance their artificial intelligence chatbots. The lawsuit, initiated by renowned publications like The New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, and Denver Post, was lodged in a federal court located in New York. The claim asserts that these technology firms have been utilizing a substantial amount of news articles without securing authorization or providing compensation, which the newspapers argue is crucial for training their AI systems.
In a statement issued by Frank Pine, the executive editor for MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing, the group expressed deep concern over the allegations, stressing that they have invested significant financial resources and effort into gathering news and producing content. Pine voiced the newspapers' strong objection to OpenAI and Microsoft allegedly following a 'Big Tech playbook' by appropriating journalistic material to advance their business interests without contributing to the creators. The lawsuit reflects a collective stance against what the newspapers perceive as a practice that infringes upon their intellectual property rights and undermines the value of their journalistic endeavors.
Among the newspapers involved in the legal action are publications owned by Alden Global Capital, including MediaNews Group's Mercury News, Denver Post, Orange County Register, and St. Paul Pioneer-Press, alongside Tribune Publishing's Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel. Microsoft opted not to provide a statement in response to the lawsuit, while OpenAI remained silent initially upon the request for comments on the matter, leaving the situation ripe for legal examination and potential repercussions within the tech and media landscape.