A group of writers, including Michael Chabon, David Henry Hwang, Rachel Louise Snyder, and Ayelet Waldman, have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging the company illegally used their works to train its AI ChatGPT chatbot. The lawsuit seeks class-action status and claims that OpenAI benefits and profits from the “unauthorized and illegal use” of the writers’ copyrighted content.
The lawsuit argues that ChatGPT’s ability to summarize and analyze the authors’ content indicates that OpenAI trained its GPT language model on their works. According to the plaintiffs, the outputs generated by ChatGPT are actually “derivative” works that infringe on their copyrights. They accuse OpenAI of intentional, willful, and callous disregard for their rights and claim that the company knew it was using copyrighted materials in violation of the terms of use.
A Movement for Author Consent
Michael Chabon, known for his works like “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,” was among over 10,000 authors who signed an open letter demanding companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Google to obtain consent from and fairly compensate authors for using their works to train AI models. The lawsuit against OpenAI is part of a larger movement by authors seeking recognition and compensation for the use of their intellectual property.
This isn’t the first time OpenAI has faced legal action over its training data. In July, author and comedian Sarah Silverman, along with writers Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey, filed a lawsuit accusing OpenAI and Meta of copyright infringement. In June, Paul Tremblay and Mona Awad also sued OpenAI on similar grounds. These lawsuits are reflective of a growing concern among authors regarding the unauthorized use of their works for AI training.
The Lawsuit’s Demands
The writers’ lawsuit calls for OpenAI to be prohibited from engaging in “unlawful and unfair business practices” while compensating the authors for damages related to copyright violations and other penalties. The intention is not only to seek justice for the plaintiffs but also to establish guidelines for proper use and compensation of authors’ works in AI training.
OpenAI’s Response
The Verge reached out to OpenAI for comment but did not receive an immediate response. OpenAI may choose to provide a statement or defend its position in court. However, such lawsuits have created a legal and ethical dilemma for the company and the industry as a whole, prompting a discussion on the proper use of copyrighted materials in AI development.
The lawsuit filed by the group of writers against OpenAI highlights the ongoing conflicts between AI development and copyright protection. As AI becomes more advanced, the issue of using copyrighted works for training models becomes more complicated. It is essential for companies like OpenAI to ensure that they have appropriate permissions and compensations in place to protect the rights of authors and artists. This lawsuit, along with previous legal actions, will likely shape the future of AI training and the relationship between creators and technology companies.
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