Canada's leading news organizations, including the Toronto Star and CBC, have united to sue the AI company OpenAI for allegedly using their articles without consent to develop tools like ChatGPT. This lawsuit is notable as it marks the first of its kind in Canada, with media outlets arguing that their journalism, which serves the public interest, is being exploited for commercial gain by OpenAI.
In a joint statement, the Canadian publications asserted that “It’s illegal,” emphasizing that the unauthorized use undermines the value of their work. OpenAI, however, defends its practices, stating that its models are trained on publicly available data and adhere to fair use guidelines. Moreover, OpenAI claims to work collaboratively with news publishers, providing options for these organizations to opt out of their data being used.
The coalition's legal action includes a comprehensive 84-page filing, which accuses OpenAI of disregarding content protection measures such as paywalls. The publishers are seeking C$20,000 (approximately $14,300) for each article used without authorization, potentially resulting in billions in damages. They also demand transparency in revenue derived from their content and request a court injunction preventing OpenAI from future use.
This lawsuit follows a similar pattern in the US, where media companies like The New York Times have previously taken similar steps against OpenAI. As the debate over AI and copyright continues, the legal landscape for creators remains turbulent, with substantial implications for the future of journalism and technology.
In a joint statement, the Canadian publications asserted that “It’s illegal,” emphasizing that the unauthorized use undermines the value of their work. OpenAI, however, defends its practices, stating that its models are trained on publicly available data and adhere to fair use guidelines. Moreover, OpenAI claims to work collaboratively with news publishers, providing options for these organizations to opt out of their data being used.
The coalition's legal action includes a comprehensive 84-page filing, which accuses OpenAI of disregarding content protection measures such as paywalls. The publishers are seeking C$20,000 (approximately $14,300) for each article used without authorization, potentially resulting in billions in damages. They also demand transparency in revenue derived from their content and request a court injunction preventing OpenAI from future use.
This lawsuit follows a similar pattern in the US, where media companies like The New York Times have previously taken similar steps against OpenAI. As the debate over AI and copyright continues, the legal landscape for creators remains turbulent, with substantial implications for the future of journalism and technology.
