Key Points
- Indian media giants, including NDTV and Network18, have joined a lawsuit against OpenAI for copyright infringement.
- The lawsuit claims OpenAI scraped and used its content without permission to train AI models.
- The case follows ANI’s previous lawsuit and raises concerns about OpenAI’s lack of licensing agreements in India.
- OpenAI maintains that it complies with fair use and collaborates with media organizations globally.
Several major Indian media houses, including Gautam Adani’s NDTV and Mukesh Ambani’s Network18, have joined legal proceedings against OpenAI, alleging the unauthorized use of their copyrighted content. The Indian Express and Hindustan Times are also part of the lawsuit, which claims OpenAI scraped their news websites without permission to train its AI models.
The case, first reported by Reuters, builds upon an earlier lawsuit filed by ANI against OpenAI in 2023. The 135-page legal filing argues that OpenAI’s practices pose a “clear and present danger” to the copyrights of the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) and other media outlets. The document highlights concerns about tech companies leveraging content without compensation, disrupting revenue streams, and undermining journalistic integrity.
A coalition of prominent Indian media groups filed the lawsuit, including NDTV, Network18, Dainik Bhaskar, Zee News, and India Today Group. However, The Times of India, a DNPA member, has not joined the legal battle.
In response, OpenAI has maintained that it follows fair use policies and partners with media organizations globally, including in India. However, Indian publishers argue that while OpenAI has signed content licensing agreements with international outlets such as Time magazine and Le Monde, it has not taken similar steps in India.
The Indian legal action comes amid a growing global trend of media organizations challenging AI companies over the use of their content. In the United States, The New York Times has sued OpenAI and its backer, Microsoft, for similar copyright violations.
Despite these legal challenges, OpenAI continues to expand in India. It recently hired a public policy head and emphasizes India as a key market due to its vast number of smartphone users. Analysts predict India’s AI market will grow significantly, mirroring global trends.
The ANI lawsuit hearing is scheduled soon. OpenAI argues that Indian courts lack jurisdiction since its servers are located overseas. The outcome of these proceedings could set a precedent for future AI-related copyright issues in India.