Judge Asked to Reject 'Fair Use' Defense in Microsoft-OpenAI Copyright Case
A Manhattan judge is being asked to reject Microsoft and OpenAI's defense that they used 'fair use' when copying news articles for their AI systems. The Mercury News and The New York Times are among several news organizations suing the tech companies, arguing that this use of their reporting has led to a decline in website traffic and subscriptions.
The news outlets claim that Microsoft and OpenAI's products have caused a 'tsunami' of 'pink slime' news sites that plagiarize or remix content from legitimate sources. They also argue that AI bots don't always handle the reporting responsibly, frequently churning out distorted facts in content that resembles news but contains inaccurate information.
According to court papers, it would cost around $6,800 to generate 1 million news-style articles averaging 500 words each without employing a single human author, editor, or reporter. The news organizations are seeking sanctions against OpenAI for allegedly destroying evidence and concealing its ability to locate stolen news stories.