A coalition of prominent Canadian media organizations has launched a significant lawsuit against OpenAI, the developer behind the AI chatbot ChatGPT, asserting that the company has unlawfully utilized their copyrighted content. This lawsuit marks the first instance of such action being taken against OpenAI in Canada and mirrors similar legal challenges that have arisen in the United States.
Five leading media entities, including the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), filed their collective complaint in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. They claim that OpenAI has infringed on their copyrights by scraping their articles to train its AI model without permission.
This legal challenge follows a precedent set in 2023, where The New York Times initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft for similar claims in the United States. Responding to the Canadian lawsuit, OpenAI has indicated that it has yet to thoroughly review the allegations but maintains that its models rely on publicly available data, aligning with fair use principles.
The Canadian media companies are seeking damages in the billions, which includes a request for 20,000 Canadian dollars (approximately $14,700) per article that they assert has been improperly utilized. Additionally, they demand a share of any profits derived from the alleged misuse of their content and request that OpenAI cease such practices in the future.
As the lawsuit unfolds, it is poised to spotlight ongoing debates surrounding copyright in the age of artificial intelligence and the responsibilities of AI developers in using existing content.
