Microsoft-backed OpenAI is pushing back against efforts by India’s largest media organizations, including those owned by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, to join a copyright lawsuit that could set a major precedent for AI regulation in the country, Reuters reported.
The case originally began last year when Indian news agency ANI filed a legal challenge against OpenAI, alleging that its AI models were using copyrighted content without permission. In recent weeks, book publishers and nearly a dozen digital media outlets have sought to join the case, arguing that OpenAI’s ChatGPT unlawfully reproduces summaries and extracts from their content.
During a court hearing on Tuesday, OpenAI lawyer Amit Sibal opposed the media groups’ attempt to enter the case, stating, “I have an objection, I wish to file a reply.” OpenAI has consistently denied using copyrighted literary work in its AI training and argues that its models disseminate only publicly available information, a stance it claims is protected under fair use principles.
Earlier in the day, OpenAI had also filed to dismiss the book publishers’ lawsuit, maintaining that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the case since its servers are located outside the country, *Reuters* reported.
The Federation of Indian Publishers, which represents local firms as well as global publishing giants like Bloomsbury and Penguin Random House, contends that OpenAI’s ChatGPT generates book summaries and excerpts sourced from unlicensed online copies, thereby hurting their business. OpenAI, however, rejects these claims.
Additionally, major Indian digital news platforms, including “The Indian Express” and “Hindustan Times,” have sought to join the lawsuit, alleging that OpenAI has been scraping content from their websites and repurposing it for users without authorization.
Tuesday’s hearing also saw a dispute over how the case has been covered in the media. OpenAI objected to reports based on interviews and non-public court documents, accusing its opponents of seeking relief both in the legal system and the “public court” of media coverage.
Ameet Datta, a lawyer representing the digital news groups, dismissed OpenAI’s concerns, calling them “really unfortunate.”
The case, which will be heard again in February, is being closely watched as courts worldwide grapple with similar legal challenges against AI companies.
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