OpenAI and Microsoft face a new lawsuit alleging misuse of copyrighted material for training their artificial intelligence models, including the widely-known chatbot ChatGPT. The class action lawsuit, led by author and Hollywood Reporter editor Julian Sancton, was filed in Manhattan federal court. It accuses OpenAI of copying tens of thousands of nonfiction books without permission, an allegation that extends to Microsoft due to its substantial investment in OpenAI and integration of its systems into their products.
Sancton, the author of "Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night," claims his work was among those used to train OpenAI's GPT large language models. He is not alone in his allegations; the lawsuit joins a series of similar complaints from other authors, including prominent figures like John Grisham, George R.R. Martin, and Jonathan Franzen. These authors argue that the AI company's actions constitute copyright infringement, a claim both OpenAI and Microsoft have previously denied.
Representatives for OpenAI declined to comment on the ongoing litigation, and Microsoft has yet to respond. Justin Nelson, Sancton's attorney, criticized OpenAI and Microsoft for profiting from what he described as "rampant theft of copyrighted works."
This lawsuit is distinctive in its direct accusation of Microsoft's involvement in the alleged infringement, as well as OpenAI. It seeks monetary damages and a court injunction to stop the purported copyright violation. The complaint underscores the years of effort and significant financial investment authors like Sancton put into their work, expecting protection under copyright laws. It alleges that OpenAI and Microsoft have built a multi-billion-dollar business model by appropriating these works without authorization or compensation.
OpenAI previously maintained that content generated by ChatGPT does not constitute "derivative work," thus not infringing on any copyrights. However, this stance is now challenged by several lawsuits, including one from screenwriter Michael Chabon and a separate complaint involving other renowned authors and celebrities.
The outcome of Sancton's lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of AI technology development, particularly in how these companies train their models with existing copyrighted materials. It raises critical questions about the balance between technological innovation and the rights of content creators.
