New Delhi: OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, is attempting to block India’s largest media organizations, including those owned by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, from participating in an ongoing copyright lawsuit. The case is poised to shape the legal framework for artificial intelligence in India, a key market for OpenAI.
Expanding Legal Battle
Globally, courts are grappling with lawsuits from authors, musicians, and media organizations accusing tech firms of using their copyrighted material without authorization to train AI models. In India, the legal dispute began last year when news agency ANI filed a lawsuit against OpenAI. Recently, book publishers and nearly a dozen digital media outlets, including major entities linked to Adani and Ambani, have sought to join the case.
On Tuesday, OpenAI filed a motion to dismiss the book publishers’ claims, asserting that its ChatGPT service operates within fair use principles by disseminating publicly available information. During the court hearing, OpenAI’s lawyer, Amit Sibal, opposed the media organizations’ request to join the lawsuit, stating, “I have an objection, I wish to file a reply,” referring to a written objection he plans to submit.
The next hearing in this case is scheduled for February.
OpenAI’s Position
OpenAI has consistently maintained that its data usage is in accordance with fair use laws and relies only on publicly available information. When contacted for comment, OpenAI referred to its earlier statements and the court filing, where it contested the book publishers’ claims. In its initial response to ANI’s lawsuit, OpenAI also argued that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the case, as its servers are located outside the country.
Allegations of Content Scraping
The Federation of Indian Publishers, representing companies such as Penguin Random House and Bloomsbury, has accused OpenAI’s ChatGPT of producing book summaries and extracts from unlicensed online copies, a claim OpenAI denies.
Additionally, digital media outlets, including The Indian Express and The Hindustan Times, have alleged that ChatGPT scrapes content from their websites, storing and reproducing their work for users without proper authorization.
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Media Coverage Dispute
The Tuesday hearing also saw heated exchanges between lawyers regarding media coverage of the lawsuit. OpenAI’s legal team objected to articles based on interviews and non-public court documents, alleging an attempt to influence public opinion. Ameet Datta, representing the digital news group, called such allegations “really unfortunate.”
As the case continues, its outcome may significantly impact how AI companies handle copyrighted material and set a precedent for the use of intellectual property in AI training.
