Trump Administration Backs OpenAI in New York Times Copyright Lawsuit
The Trump administration has entered the legal battle between OpenAI and The New York Times, throwing its support behind the AI company in a case that could reshape how the technology industry trains large language models.
In a filing submitted this week, the administration argued that The New York Times is attempting to "narrow fair-use doctrine to exclude the training of OpenAI's large language models." This position aligns with OpenAI's core defense: that using copyrighted material to train AI systems falls under fair use protections.
The New York Times first filed the lawsuit in December 2023, alleging that OpenAI unlawfully used its articles to train ChatGPT and other AI systems. The newspaper seeks "billions of dollars" in damages from both OpenAI and Microsoft, which has invested heavily in the AI company.
The administration's intervention marks a notable shift in how the federal government approaches AI-related copyright issues. Legal experts have indicated that the outcome of this case could set precedent for similar lawsuits involving AI training practices across the industry.
Several other publishers and media organizations have filed similar copyright claims against AI companies, many of which are likely watching this case closely for guidance on how courts might rule on questions of AI and intellectual property.