BUSINESS

New York publishers seek sanctions against OpenAI

PUBLISHED Jul 11, 2026, 8:11 AM ET

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In New York, a coalition of major U.S. newspaper publishers has asked a federal judge to impose severe sanctions on OpenAI, accusing the company of deception and evidence destruction in a high‑profile copyright lawsuit. In a motion filed Saturday, July 11, 2026, in the Southern District of New York, The New York Times Company, the New York Daily News, the Chicago Tribune and others allege OpenAI withheld critical evidence and intentionally destroyed millions of chat histories. The case centers on claims that OpenAI and Microsoft unlawfully used copyrighted news articles to train AI models that compete directly with news outlets.

By Lauren Mitchell | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Two years ago, OpenAI begins discovery representations
Over following months, publishers pursue copyright evidence
During discovery, OpenAI deletes millions chat histories
During litigation, publishers allege systematic deception
July 11, 2026, sanctions motion filed in court
Same day, allegations detail obstructed legal process
Ongoing, lawsuit challenges training on copyrighted articles

News Intelligence

This lawsuit could reshape how AI companies use news content. If publishers win, AI might not summarize or generate news-like text. That could impact your news apps and digital assistants. Keep an eye on your updates.