Microsoft has filed a motion seeking to dismiss key parts of a lawsuit The New York Times filed against the company and Open AI, accusing them of copyright infringement. If you'll recall, The Times sued both companies for using its published articles to train their GPT large language models (LLMs) without permission and compensation. In its filing, the company has accused The Times of pushing "doomsday futurology" by claiming that AI technologies pose a threat to independent journalism. It follows OpenAI's court filing from late February that's also seeking to dismiss some important elements on the case.
Like OpenAI before it, Microsoft accused The Times of crafting "unrealistic prompts" in an effort to "coax the GPT-based tools" to spit out responses matching its content. It also compared the media organization's lawsuit to Hollywood studios' efforts to " stop a groundbreaking new technology:" The VCR. Instead of destroying Hollywood, Microsoft explained, the VCR helped the entertainment industry flourish by opening up revenue streams. LLMs are a breakthrough in artificial intelligence, it continued, and Microsoft collaborated with OpenAI to "help bring their extraordinary power to the public" because it "firmly believes in LLMs' capacity to improve the way people live and work."
The company is asking the court to dismiss three claims, including one saying it's liable for end-user copyright infringement through the use of GPT-based tools and another that says it violates the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Microsoft also wants the court to dismiss the element of the case wherein The Times accused it of misappropriating time-sensitive breaking news and consumer purchasing recommendations. As an example, The Times argued in its lawsuit that it will lose revenue if users ask ChatGPT to research articles on Wirecutter, which the news company owns, because potential buyers will no longer click on its referral links. But that's "mere speculation about what The Times apparently fears might happen," and it didn't give a single real-world example in its complaint, Microsoft said.
"Microsoft doesn't dispute that it worked with OpenAI to copy millions of The Times's works without its permission to build its tools," Ian Crosby, lead counsel for The Times, told the publication." Instead, it oddly compares L.L.M.s to the VCR even though VCR makers never argued that it was necessary to engage in massive copyright infringement to build their products."
OpenAI and Microsoft are facing more lawsuits related to the content used to train the former's LLMs other than this particular one. Nonfiction writers and fiction authors, including Michael Chabon, George R.R. Martin, John Grisham and Jodi Picoult, accused the companies of stealing their work for AI training. More recently, The Intercept, Raw Story and AlterNet filed separate lawsuits against the company, because ChatGPT allegedly reproduces their content "verbatim or nearly verbatim" while removing proper attribution.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-accuses-the-new-york-times-of-doom-mongering-in-openai-lawsuit-133025748.html?src=rss
Fabian Mohr
It’s fascinating to see the intersection of technology, copyright, and creativity in this lawsuit between Microsoft, OpenAI, and The New York Times. As an indie game enthusiast who values creativity and innovation, I can’t help but wonder how this legal battle will shape the future of AI development and content creation. Do you think cases like these will impact the way developers approach using existing content to train their AI models in the future?
TacticianPrime89
@Fabian Mohr, the lawsuit brings up important ethical questions regarding the use of existing content in AI development. As a TacticianPrime, I believe it’s crucial for developers to prioritize respecting copyright laws and obtaining proper permissions when using others’ work to train AI models. While AI advancement is essential, it should not infringe on creators’ rights. This legal battle could shape how developers approach content creation in the future, highlighting the significance of ethical practices and attribution. It will be intriguing to see the outcome and the impact it has on the AI industry.
Estell Mann
This lawsuit brings up important questions about the balance between innovation, creativity, and copyright. As a VR pioneer who values immersive experiences and cutting-edge technology, I believe it’s vital for developers to ethically and legally use existing content in AI training. This legal battle could lead to clearer guidelines on how AI models can be trained with copyrighted material in the future. Collaboration between developers and content creators is key to respecting intellectual property rights while advancing AI technology. How do you think this lawsuit will impact the future of AI development and content creation in gaming?
Abel Glover
This situation brings up important questions about technology, copyright, and creativity. As someone who enjoys strategy games, I see similarities in how developers use existing content for new games or mods. Respecting intellectual property rights is crucial, but there’s a fine line between innovation and infringement when training AI models.
This case could impact how developers use existing content in the future, possibly leading to stricter regulations on training AI models with copyrighted material. This may prompt developers to obtain proper permissions or licenses before using content for training, promoting an ethical and sustainable approach to AI development.
How do you think this legal battle will influence the future of AI development and content creation in the tech industry?
VelocityRacer95
@Fabian Mohr, great question! This lawsuit brings up important ethical and legal issues regarding using existing content for AI training. Developers may become more careful and transparent about their sources and permissions. Hopefully, this case will promote a more respectful and collaborative content creation approach in the AI industry, ensuring fair compensation and recognition for original creators.