US government backs OpenAI in New York Times copyright case

The Trump administration has expressed support for OpenAI in its ongoing copyright dispute with The New York Times. The administration's statement of interest, submitted on Wednesday, argues that using copyrighted material to train AI models can be considered fair use. This stance has been placed by the federal government in a high-profile debate over whether AI firms can utilize copyrighted works for model training without obtaining permission or remuneration from rights holders.

The New York Times initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft in 2023, claiming the companies had used millions of its copyrighted articles without permission to train their AI systems. The newspaper contends that technologies such as ChatGPT could undermine its journalism and potentially eliminate its subscription, licensing, and advertising revenue.

OpenAI has denied any wrongdoing and asserts that training AI models on publicly accessible information is safeguarded under the fair use doctrine. The company further contends that this principle is essential for innovation and crucial to preserving U.S. competitiveness in artificial intelligence. The administration's involvement in the case arrives as publishers, entertainment companies, and other rights holders grapple with the implications of generative AI on copyright law.

The Times' lawsuit is among a series of copyright actions brought against AI companies by publishers, authors, artists, and other content creators. In June, a coalition of nearly 400 news publishers filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging unauthorized scraping of their content to train AI products. The case carries broader ramifications, as Hollywood studios, unions, and creators have also been exploring how generative AI can utilize copyrighted material and creative works.

Over 400 Hollywood professionals and executives had previously urged the Trump administration to reject proposals from OpenAI and Google that they argued would undermine copyright protections for their work. Both The New York Times and OpenAI have yet to respond to inquiries regarding the matter.