OpenAI Feared "Optics" of what might appear on Hacker News

New filings in the Authors Guild v. OpenAI and Microsoft lawsuit reveal that executives and employees at both companies knowingly broke the law and showed contempt for human authors. The brief, filed last Thursday, documents the companies' awareness of the harm their actions could cause authors, publishers, and American culture.

The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft illegally trained their products on copyrighted books, posing an existential threat to writers and publishers. Plaintiffs include renowned authors like David Baldacci, Taylor Branch, and Jodi Picoult. Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger expressed shock at the defendants' actions, stating that OpenAI pursued its mass piracy scheme despite evidence that it would degrade American culture and put writers out of work.

The Authors Guild, a professional organization for writers, is leading the case alongside lead counsel Justin A. Nelson from Susman Godfrey. The multidistrict litigation is pending in Manhattan, with more briefing expected over the next few months and a hearing planned for early 2027.