Author and Reporter Files Lawsuit
OpenAI and Microsoft are facing a lawsuit filed by author and reporter Julian Sancton, alleging the unauthorized use of nonfiction authors' work to train AI models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT service. The lawsuit was filed in a federal court in Manhattan on November 21.
Allegations of Unauthorized Use
According to Sancton, OpenAI used tens of thousands of nonfiction books without authorization to train its language models. Several other copyright owners, including authors John Grisham, George R.R. Martin, and Jonathan Franzen, have also initiated legal actions against OpenAI and other tech firms, claiming the misuse of their work in training AI systems. The companies involved have denied these allegations.
Microsoft's Involvement
The lawsuit highlights Microsoft's role in generating unlicensed copies of authors' works for training data and the development of GPT-based technology. Sancton accuses Microsoft of being aware of OpenAI's indiscriminate internet crawling for copyrighted material.
Surprising Twist
Microsoft recently hired Sam Altman, the former head of OpenAI's AI research team, to lead its own AI research team. However, OpenAI announced on November 22 that Altman would be returning as CEO, in a surprising turn of events. Microsoft, despite its integration of GPT into its products, has largely avoided copyright infringement scrutiny.
Author Sues OpenAI and Microsoft
Sancton's legal action is the first time an author has sued OpenAI while also naming Microsoft as a defendant. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI used Sancton's book, "Madhouse at the End of the Earth," among other nonfiction works, to train its language models. Sancton holds Microsoft accountable for copyright infringement due to its involvement in model development. He is seeking monetary damages and a court order to stop the alleged infringement.
