Media companies are expressing concerns over the unauthorized use of their content by AI-powered search services, calling for platform operators to seek permission from copyright owners. The Japan Newspaper Publishers and Editors Association highlighted the resemblance between the outputs of these AI search engines and the original news stories they rely on, warning about the high risk of copyright infringement.
Unlike traditional search engines that present a list of relevant websites, the new AI services offer direct answers in text format, similar to a chat log. This approach aims to provide users with quick answers, potentially reducing the need to search further on the internet. However, the association criticized this method as it could lead to misinformation and distort news articles out of context.
The statement from the association condemned companies like Google and Microsoft for operating these AI search services without proper consideration for copyright laws and the labor put into creating news content. It called for the government to update intellectual property legislation to ensure the accuracy and reliability of information online. Both Google and Microsoft responded by emphasizing their compliance with Japanese laws and respect for copyrights in their services.