Trump administration intervenes in AI copyright case, favoring OpenAI
The U.S. Justice Department has formally sided with OpenAI in a lawsuit brought by The New York Times, which claims the company used its articles without permission to train language models. The government contends that limiting AI development would harm innovation and economic growth. The Times is pursuing billions in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft.
The Justice Department’s filing marks a rare federal intervention in a copyright dispute centered on artificial intelligence, arguing that overly strict limits on training data could slow technological advancement. The New York Times’ lawsuit, filed in 2023, seeks billions in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging systematic use of its reporting without compensation.
The case now sits before the Southern District of New York, where the government’s stance adds weight to OpenAI’s defense. Separately, the Trump administration has pursued other legal actions against the Times, and OpenAI’s president and Microsoft have contributed to Trump’s campaigns, though the DOJ’s position does not reference those ties.
This ruling could reshape how AI companies access copyrighted text, affecting writers, publishers, and tech firms alike. If the government’s view prevails, creators may see fewer protections for their work, while AI developers gain broader latitude to train models. Conversely, a ruling for the Times might raise costs for AI research and slow innovation. The outcome may influence future copyright cases and set precedents for digital content use, with ripple effects across journalism, education, and software industries.