Nearly 400 local newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft over alleged copyright theft

The massive coalition of local newspaper publishers filed a federal lawsuit today against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging the technology companies systematically copied copyrighted reporting from nearly 400 local newspapers to train and develop commercial artificial intelligence products, including ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, without permission or compensation.

The publishers, represented by Platkin LLP, a law firm founded earlier this year by former New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, contend that OpenAI and Microsoft unlawfully appropriated original news content to build their AI systems, violating the Copyright Act and threatening the future of local journalism.

The lawsuit also alleges that OpenAI knowingly stripped copyright management information from publishers’ work — including author bylines, copyright notices, and terms of use information — in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

The complaint cites remarks by OpenAI founder Sam Altman, who acknowledged during testimony before the British House of Lords that it would be “impossible to train today’s leading AI models without using copyrighted materials.”

“Local newspapers are the lifeblood of the communities they serve and among the most trusted institutions in America,” said Platkin. “This lawsuit on behalf of a group of publishers that produce hundreds of local and regional newspapers seeks to ensure these local publications creating original content will have meaningful protections in the AI era.”

Although major national news organizations and prominent authors have previously sued OpenAI and Microsoft over similar claims, the new case marks the largest coordinated legal effort by local and regional newspapers challenging the companies’ use of copyrighted reporting.

The publishers argue that local newspapers operate on limited budgets while employing reporters who cover city councils, schools, courts, public safety, and other community institutions. At the same time, they contend, OpenAI has generated substantial revenue and shareholder value using reporting produced by others.

“AI systems do not critically evaluate city council and community meetings. They don’t investigate local crimes and corruption, publish obituaries, or cover the new restaurant opening downtown. Local reporters do,” Platkin said. “This lawsuit is not about stopping AI innovation, but ensuring that innovation happens fairly and within the bounds of the law.”

The lawsuit comes as local news organizations continue to face mounting economic pressures.

The publishers argue that allowing technology companies to monetize original reporting without permission or payment will further weaken local journalism and the communities that depend on it.

The publishers argue that OpenAI built its AI platform using decades of original reporting produced by local newspapers without compensation, and the lawsuit seeks to hold the company accountable for what it describes as ongoing violations of federal copyright law.