
The U.S. government has sided with OpenAI in a lawsuit filed by The New York Times over the use of copyrighted material to train AI models. The Trump administration submitted a 20-page brief defending OpenAI's practices, citing the importance of fair use in fostering AI innovation. The case, being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, questions the legality of using copyrighted works without permission for AI training. Although the brief is not a ruling, it underscores the government's commitment to AI leadership and could influence the legal landscape.
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The U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for a legal interpretation that would allow AI developers to use copyrighted works for training without explicit permission, framing it as fair use. This move could effectively create a 'safe harbor' for AI training, bypassing Congress's authority to legislate such exceptions. The DOJ argues that AI training is 'exceedingly transformative,' thus justifying the use of copyrighted material without licensing. This approach could significantly impact authors and creators, as it prioritizes AI industry growth over traditional copyright protections. If successful, this could reshape the legal landscape for AI development and copyright law.
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© WIRED AIThe Trump Administration has taken a decisive step by supporting OpenAI in its copyright dispute with the New York Times. The government contends that using copyrighted material for AI training is a transformative act that qualifies as 'fair use,' potentially shaping the future landscape of AI development in the United States. This stance suggests that restricting AI training could impede technological advancement and economic growth. The ongoing case underscores the friction between AI companies and content creators over the use of copyrighted works. The outcome could establish a new legal standard for how AI models are trained using existing content.