The New York Times sues Microsoft and OpenAI.

The New York Times filed a lawsuit on December 27th against Microsoft and OpenAI for copyright infringement, alleging that the ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) platform developed by the two companies is engaging in unfair competition and poses a threat to press freedom and society.

This is considered the first copyright infringement allegation against ChatGPT by a major American media organization. The newspaper has asked a federal court in Manhattan to hold Microsoft and OpenAI liable for “billions of dollars in actual and statutory damages” for the unlawful copying and use of New York Times content. The lawsuit also demands that OpenAI remove all AI chatbots that use New York Times digital content.

The New York Times holds Microsoft and OpenAI liable for “billions of dollars in actual and statutory damages” related to copyright infringement. (Photo: Reuters)

"Microsoft and OpenAI sought to profit from the New York Times' massive investment in our journalism," the statement said, while also accusing Microsoft and OpenAI of using New York Times content without payment to create alternative products aimed at winning over the newspaper's readers.

Microsoft is said to have committed $13 billion to OpenAI and has used some of its technologies in its Bing search engine.

In one example cited in the lawsuit, the featured Bing browsing results provided by ChatGPT were “almost verbatim copies” of the New York Times’ Wirecutter product review site, but failed to acknowledge the content and remove the referral links the newspaper used to generate advertising revenue, resulting in financial damage to the New York Times.

The American newspaper stated that Microsoft and OpenAI "placed particular emphasis" on using New York Times digital content because of the "perceived reliability and accuracy of the data."

"If the New York Times and other media organizations cannot produce and protect their independent journalism, this will create a void that no computer or artificial intelligence can fill," the complaint asserts, adding that mainstream journalism will no longer be respected and funding for journalism in society will gradually decrease.

The New York Times also reported that it had attempted to negotiate with OpenAI and Microsoft in April 2023 to find an "amicable solution" to the copyright issue, but without success. Several other media outlets have reached agreements with OpenAI regarding the use of their content, including AP and Axel Springer, Politico, and Business Insider.

Microsoft and OpenAI have not yet responded to this lawsuit.

Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)

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