JS’s lawsuit vs. OpenAI, Microsoft to proceed
Manhattan Judge Rejects Motions to Dismiss Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Microsoft
A Manhattan judge has rejected the majority of motions by OpenAI and Microsoft to dismiss parts of a lawsuit accusing the tech companies of using stories from newspapers like JS and the New York Times to train their artificial intelligence products.
The lawsuit, brought by JS, MediaNews Group, Tribune Publishing, the New York Times, and the Center for Investigative Reporting, alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft stole copyrighted news stories to benefit AI products like ChatGPT.
Manhattan Federal Judge Sidney Stein’s ruling preserves the core elements of the lawsuit, allowing it to proceed to trial. While some claims were dismissed, including those related to statute of limitations and unfair competition, the judge upheld claims related to copyright infringement and stripping content management information.
Steven Lieberman, a lawyer for JS and the New York Times, called the ruling a significant victory, stating, “We get to go forward with virtually all of our claims intact, including all of the copyright filings.”
Microsoft and OpenAI argue that their use of copyrighted material falls under fair use, citing the doctrine that permits the use of copyrighted materials under certain circumstances, such as for educational purposes.
The lawsuit, filed in 2024, alleges that the tech companies have “stolen” the work of journalists and harmed the newspapers’ subscription-based business model. The plaintiffs are seeking damages, restitution of profits, and a court order to stop the companies from using their materials to train AI models.
Frank Pine, executive editor at MediaNews Group, praised the court’s decision and criticized Big Tech’s efforts to weaken copyright protections, calling it “shameful and un-American.”
The case highlights the ongoing debate over intellectual property rights in the digital age, with implications for the future of journalism and AI development.
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Original Publication Date: March 26, 2025 at 5:20 PM MDT
