The Times seeks damages, and an order to cease using its content for AI model training. It is also demanding the destruction of already harvested data.
While a specific sum is not mentioned, The Times claims the infringement could amount to billions of dollars in statutory and actual damages.
Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, has swiftly incorporated AI into its products, making it the world’s second-largest company by market capitalization.
The lawsuit challenges the assumption that using internet content without compensation is fair, especially when it creates potential rivals to traditional news publishers.
“Transformative” technology
The Times claims that attempts to negotiate a content deal with OpenAI were disrupted by the argument that the technology was “transformative” and did not require a commercial arrangement.
“There is nothing ‘transformative’ about using The Times’ content without payment to create products that substitute for The Times and steal audiences away from it,” the lawsuit alleges.
