Seattle Times and Newsday Sue OpenAI and Microsoft Over AI Training
The Seattle Times and Newsday become the latest news organizations to sue OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing the tech companies of using their journalism to train AI models without permission. The lawsuit argues that the rise of AI could leave the journalism industry "broken beyond repair," describing generative AI as "a snake eating its own tail" that could destroy the very publishers whose content it depends on.
The complaint takes aim at products like ChatGPT and Copilot, claiming they are marketed as content producers but actually function as "rapacious consumers" that devour human-authored work and return copies and derivative imitations for commercial gain. The publishers say this dynamic threatens the economic foundation of professional journalism.
The case follows a wave of similar litigation, including the New York Times' 2023 lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged copyright infringement. The Seattle Times' involvement draws particular attention because Microsoft and OpenAI have previously funded some of the organization's journalism projects and fellowships. A Microsoft spokesperson says the company is "surprised by the lawsuit" but remains open to exploring solutions.