A coalition of Canada’s largest media companies has taken a bold step by suing OpenAI, the creator of the AI chatbot ChatGPT. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI has illegally used their news content, marking a pivotal moment in the intersection of technology and media rights.
The plaintiffs, which include prominent players like the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and the Globe and Mail, filed their case in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice. This marks the first major copyright infringement suit of its kind in Canada, echoing a similar case filed in the U.S. by The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft in 2023.
The Canadian outlets are asking for a staggering $14,700 (CAD 20,000) for each article they claim was unlawfully used and are demanding a share of OpenAI's profits derived from this alleged misuse. Additionally, they want the AI company to cease these practices to protect their work in the future.
In response, OpenAI has stated that they have not had the chance to review the specifics of the lawsuit but emphasized that their models are trained on publicly available data consistent with fair use and international copyright norms. As technology and media continue to intersect, this lawsuit could set a precedent for how content creators protect their work in the age of AI.
