The Seattle Times and Newsday have initiated legal action against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging misuse of their journalistic content for AI training.
The Seattle Times and Newsday have filed a lawsuit claiming that the rise of artificial intelligence could severely disrupt the journalism industry. The lawsuit denounces generative AI as a “snake eating its own tail,” warning it could ultimately annihilate the very institutions responsible for producing original content.
The lawsuit argues that AI applications—such as ChatGPT and Copilot—are marketed as content creators. However, the claim suggests they are primarily exploitative, consuming human-generated content and generating derivative works that undermine the original creators’ interests.
Earlier in 2023, The New York Times took legal action against OpenAI and its investor Microsoft for alleged copyright infringement, leading to a trend of similar lawsuits from various publications. The complaint from The Seattle Times is particularly significant, given that Microsoft’s funding has supported various journalism initiatives and fellowships at the organization.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson from Microsoft expressed surprise but indicated a willingness to engage in discussions to address the matter constructively.
Editor’s Take
This lawsuit highlights a critical issue within the evolving landscape of AI technologies and their relationship with traditional media. As generative AI becomes more integrated into everyday applications, its reliance on existing content raises serious questions about ethical usage and copyright. For users and developers, this could signal a shift in how AI products are created and marketed, potentially reshaping industry standards and practices.
Source: techcrunch.com
