Thirty-five independent newspaper publishers sue Microsoft and OpenAI for unauthorized web scraping to train AI models

@mattplatkin @OpenAI @Microsoft Fucking get em.

On behalf of the largest coalition of local newspaper publishers assembled to date, we just sued @OpenAI and @Microsoft for allegedly violating copyright laws by using our clients' content to train and build their chatbots, and for repurposing that content, without proper compensation or attribution.

We are proud to stand up and fight on behalf of America's most trusted news source: our local news.

The Complaint, filed today, is online at: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73528019/1/richner-communications-inc-v-microsoft-corporation/

Plaintiffs frame the case this way:

Removal of CMI in alleged violation of the DMCA, a now popular plaintiff refrain, rounds out the Complaint:

The direct infringement claims are based on copying and unauthorized display of plaintiffs content, allegedly supported by an inference of memorization by defendants' models:

Count 2 sounds in vicarious infringement:

@mattplatkin @OpenAI @Microsoft good for you give em hell

@mattplatkin @OpenAI @Microsoft Good!

@mattplatkin @GaryMarcus @OpenAI @Microsoft Cool. When you win, will they actually suffer meaningful punitive damages and be forced to stop stealing, or is this just a way to force a deal for current and future royalties on your clients' content?

@mattplatkin @OpenAI @Microsoft Great. AI, meta and Google have so far gotten away with a multi billion dollar theft in plain daylight. The execs should be in prison.

@mattplatkin @GaryMarcus @OpenAI @Microsoft Best of luck.

@mattplatkin @dreamosaurus @OpenAI @Microsoft Get em. It's insane these companies can profit off of the world's collective labor with zero compensation, credit or consent, while also building tools with the end goal to replace those workers.

@mattplatkin @OpenAI @Microsoft Give em hell

@GaryMarcus

The case is Richner Communications, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation, 1:26-cv-05320, (S.D.N.Y.), is Judge Stein and the @OpenAI MDL in their future?! https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73528019/richner-communications-inc-v-microsoft-corporation/

@GaryMarcus That has to fail. It's transformative fair use. The last dying gasp of a dead business model.

@GaryMarcus Meanwhile video billionaires look For settlements. Not good for humanity. Settlements with tech robbers since 2001 is how we all got here

@mattplatkin @GaryMarcus @OpenAI @Microsoft Naive.

@mattplatkin @OpenAI @Microsoft For the love of gawd, do no settle