The nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR), renowned for its in-depth reports such as "Mother Jones" and "Reveal," announced on Thursday that it will be suing Microsoft and OpenAI, accusing the two companies of using its content without permission, thereby infringing upon its copyright. This move follows similar legal actions taken by The New York Times and several other media outlets.
Monica Bauerlein, CEO of CIR, stated in a release: "OpenAI and Microsoft have begun stealing our news to strengthen their products, without ever seeking our permission or offering compensation. This free-riding behavior is not only unfair but also a copyright infringement. The work of journalists is valuable, whether at CIR or elsewhere, a fact that OpenAI and Microsoft are well aware of."
CIR's attorneys further pointed out in the lawsuit that OpenAI and Microsoft's plagiarism has damaged CIR's relationships with its readers and partners, leading to revenue losses. CIR is not alone; several media organizations including The New York Times, eight publishing groups under hedge fund Alden Global Capital, as well as The Intercept, Raw Story, AlterNet, and The Denver Post, have also sued OpenAI and Microsoft.
Meanwhile, some writer groups have also sued OpenAI, although some lawsuits, including those involving comedian Sarah Silverman, have been dismissed. However, not all media organizations are opposed to OpenAI; some, like The Associated Press, Axel Springer, and the Financial Times, have signed content licensing agreements with OpenAI.
Regarding CIR's lawsuit, a spokesperson for OpenAI told CNBC: "We are working with the news industry and collaborating with global news publishers by showcasing their content in our products like ChatGPT, including summaries, quotes, and attributions, to direct traffic back to the original articles."
Although OpenAI and Microsoft have not yet responded to The Verge's request for comment, this lawsuit will undoubtedly spark extensive discussions about artificial intelligence content generation, copyright law, and the cooperative relationships between media organizations and tech companies. As AI technology continues to evolve, balancing respect for intellectual property with the promotion of technological advancement and innovation will be a challenge for all involved parties.