Canadian media giants take legal action against OpenAI over Copyright Infringement
Is AI stealing jobs? Some of Canada’s leading news organizations seem to believe it does! This is why they have united to take on OpenAI, accusing the tech company of illegally using their copyrighted material to train its artificial intelligence chatbot, ChatGPT. This case is the first of its kind in Canada and it highlights the escalating tensions between AI developers and traditional media over a very important matter: intellectual property rights.
We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution, and links to their content in ChatGPT search
But, the Canadian media coalition’s 84-page petition, compares OpenAI’s data collection methods to systematic copyright infringement. And this current case is not a singular occurrence. It represents an increasing global backlash against AI businesses. Similar cases have been brought in the United States by the Authors Guild and The New York Times, who claim that OpenAI has used their content without permission. Concerns about disinformation have been also raised by ANI (Asian News International) in India, which has accused the corporation of copying its articles and claiming that the agency is responsible for spreading false content.
The Canadian litigation is taking place against the backdrop of the nation’s changing legislation pertaining to digital copyright. The Online News Act, which was passed in Canada earlier this year, mandates that tech firms like Google and Meta pay publishers for the use of their content. As a response, Google agreed to pay news organizations $100 million Canadian dollars, while Meta took news content off its platforms in Canada. However, a legislative gap remains, as the law does not yet address whether ChatGPT and other AI systems are covered by it. Lawsuits like the one against OpenAI have been made possible by this ambiguity, as media companies look to safeguard their intellectual property from being misused by AI developers.
Other media groups, however, have decided to work with Open AI. Publications like The Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times have signed licensing agreements with OpenAI. These agreements show a possible middle ground exists, by permitting the use of news information for AI training in return for payment.
Journalism in the Age of AI
Are “robots” taking over? This seems to be an important concern at the center of this controversy. Can AI innovation coexist with the requirement to protect journalism’s economic viability and integrity? The stakes for media businesses are existential. Newsrooms have long had difficulty adjusting to the digital economy, and one of their few remaining sources of income is in danger of being undermined by AI systems’ illicit usage of their content. But, they don’t seem to be adapting.
With the growing use of social media platforms as a source of news and information, followed by the fact that Google uses their recent algorithm – Bart – to favour Ai written and sourced content, news outlets must adapt in order to survive. Sadly, how most of them have addressed this issue so far, is by writing click-bait type of content in order to attract trafic to their websites, and, implicitly make money from ads.
As the case develops in Canada, it will not only push the limits of copyright law but also act as a barometer for discussions concerning the moral and financial ramifications of artificial intelligence on a worldwide scale.
In the words of one Canadian media executive, “This is about more than money; it’s about the survival of journalism in an era dominated by AI. The decisions made in courtrooms today will shape the media landscape of tomorrow.”
The world will be closely observing Canada’s legal struggle with OpenAI as it develops, as it involves billions of dollars and the future of intellectual property.
By Ioana Constantin
