New York newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft over copyright
Read, Watch or Listen
In New York, a coalition of publishers representing nearly 400 local and regional U.S. newspapers has filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging widescale copyright infringement. The complaint, lodged in a New York federal court, claims the companies used automated web scraping tools to copy millions of original local news articles without permission or compensation to train systems such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot. The suit also alleges violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Plaintiffs argue this conduct threatens the economic viability of local journalism. The coalition is represented by Platkin LLP, led by former New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin.
Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.
Timeline of Events
- Earlier this year Platkin LLP is established
- Earlier this year coalition organizes participating publishers
- Recently publishers investigate widespread content scraping
- Recently complaint drafted alleging copyright violations
- This week lawsuit filed in New York
- This week plaintiffs detail DMCA claims
- Following filing defendants expected to respond
- Subsequently court will set initial schedule
Why This Matters to You
Your local newspaper could be at risk. The lawsuit argues that using articles to train AI systems, without paying, hurts local journalism. If you value original reporting from your community, this case matters. Keep an eye on it.
The Bottom Line
This lawsuit could reshape how tech companies use online content. If the publishers win, it might mean more protections for creators. But it could also slow down AI development. Worth forwarding if you know someone in tech or journalism.
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