The Center for Investigative Reporting announced on Thursday that it has filed a lawsuit against ChatGPT maker OpenAI and its partner, Microsoft, in an effort to combat the unauthorized use of news content on AI platforms. The nonprofit organization, responsible for Mother Jones and Reveal, alleges that OpenAI utilized its content without permission or compensation, thereby infringing on copyrights. The legal action, initiated in a New York federal court, asserts that OpenAI's operations are centered around the exploitation of copyrighted works, particularly focusing on how AI-generated article summaries pose a threat to publishers.
Impact on News Organizations
Monika Bauerlein, CEO of the nonprofit, expressed grave concerns stating, "It's immensely dangerous... Our existence relies on users finding our work valuable and deciding to support it." She emphasized the detrimental effects of users engaging primarily with AI tools instead of directly with news sources like Mother Jones or Reveal, potentially undermining the foundation of independent newsrooms and endangering the future of journalism.
Lawsuit and Responses
OpenAI and Microsoft have not yet responded to the lawsuit filed against them. This legal action adds to the existing disputes at the Manhattan federal court where both companies are entangled in various copyright cases brought by esteemed authors and media outlets. Despite the litigations, some news organizations have opted for collaboration, arranging compensation agreements with OpenAI for utilizing their content in AI training. Time magazine, for instance, has joined this trend by granting OpenAI access to its extensive historical archives.
Fair Use Argument and Media Landscape Concerns
OpenAI and other AI developers often defend their practices by citing the "fair use" doctrine in U.S. copyright law, claiming that utilizing publicly available online content for AI training is permissible. However, CIR's lawsuit contends that the dataset utilized by OpenAI lacked crucial information such as author details, story titles, and copyright notices. The legal action emphasizes the necessity for AI companies to fairly compensate news media for their content, highlighting the significant costs involved in investigative journalism and the potential ramifications on democracy in a diminished media environment.
Collaborations and Licensing Deals
Some news organizations, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Post publisher News Corp., have engaged in licensing agreements with OpenAI. These partnerships acknowledge the value of news content and aim to ensure proper compensation for its usage in AI development. Notably, Mother Jones and CIR, both established in the 1970s and headquartered in San Francisco, merged earlier this year to strengthen their journalistic endeavors.
