Center for Investigative Reporting Sues OpenAI and Microsoft
Center for Investigative Reporting Sues OpenAI and Microsoft
The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), renowned for its investigative journalism, has initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI and its primary backer, Microsoft. This legal action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that both tech giants utilized CIR's content without authorization or compensation. The lawsuit follows similar actions by major publications like The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, underscoring a growing backlash from the news industry against AI's unlicensed use of copyrighted material to train models like ChatGPT and Copilot.
Allegations of Uncompensated Use
According to CIR, OpenAI and Microsoft engaged in "free rider behavior" by incorporating CIR's valuable journalistic work into their AI training datasets without seeking permission or providing compensation. Monika Bauerlein, CEO of CIR, highlighted that while other organizations obtain licenses to use such content, OpenAI and Microsoft did not, resulting in a clear violation of copyright laws. This practice, Bauerlein argues, undermines the efforts and intellectual property of journalists who create content that fuels AI advancements.
Broader Implications for AI and Journalism
The lawsuit not only addresses copyright infringements but also raises concerns about the future of journalism in the AI era. Bauerlein emphasized that allowing for-profit entities to exploit nonprofit journalism could severely restrict public access to high-quality, truthful information. AI-generated summaries might replace in-depth reporting, which could erode the integrity and availability of news content.
Seeking Legal Redress
CIR is seeking significant damages for the alleged copyright violations. They demand either actual damages and profits made by the defendants or statutory damages starting at $750 per infringed work and $2,500 per DMCA violation. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a crucial precedent for how AI companies interact with content creators and respect intellectual property rights in the future.
By addressing these critical issues, CIR aims to protect the interests of independent journalism and ensure that AI development does not come at the expense of ethical and legal standards in content usage.
