The Battle for Copyright Supremacy: CIR Sues OpenAI and Microsoft in Shocking Turn of Events
In a move that’s sending shockwaves through the media industry, the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, alleging that the tech giants have been pilfering their content without permission or compensation. This latest development comes on the heels of similar lawsuits filed by The New York Times and other major media outlets.
According to CIR’s CEO, Monika Bauerlein, OpenAI and Microsoft have been "vacuuming up" their stories to make their AI-powered products more powerful, without so much as a courtesy ask or a penny in compensation. "This free rider behavior is not only unfair, it’s a violation of copyright," Bauerlein declared. "The work of journalists, at CIR and everywhere, is valuable, and OpenAI and Microsoft know it."
But OpenAI is pushing back, claiming that they’re simply trying to drive traffic back to the original articles by displaying summaries, quotes, and attribution in their products like ChatGPT. "We are working collaboratively with the news industry and partnering with global news publishers to display their content in our products," an OpenAI spokesperson told CNBC.
The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft have not only copied CIR’s content, but have also undermined relationships with readers and partners, and deprived the organization of revenue. CIR is seeking damages and an injunction to stop the alleged copyright infringement.
This latest development in the ongoing battle for copyright supremacy has left many in the media industry wondering what’s next. Will OpenAI and Microsoft continue to push the boundaries of what’s considered fair use, or will they be forced to pay up for the content they’re using?
The Verge has reached out to OpenAI and Microsoft for comment, but so far, they’ve remained mum. One thing is certain, however: the war over copyright is heating up, and the stakes have never been higher.