The news organizations are demanding up to C$20,000 in damages for each article used by OpenAI, which could amount to billions if they win the case. The lawsuit is part of a larger battle between Canadian media and American tech companies, with similar suits also filed by US outlets like the New York Times. OpenAI, valued at over $150bn and having signed licensing agreements with several media organizations, has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
Key takeaways:
- Major Canadian news organizations have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing the tech firm of 'strip-mining journalism' by using their articles to train its ChatGPT software without permission.
- The lawsuit demands punitive damages, a share of OpenAI's profits from using the articles, and an injunction preventing the company from using any of the news articles in the future.
- The plaintiffs, which include the Globe and Mail, the Canadian Press, the CBC, the Toronto Star, Metroland Media and Postmedia, are seeking up to C$20,000 in damages for each article used by OpenAI, potentially amounting to billions.
- This lawsuit is part of a larger trend of Canadian media organizations taking legal action against American tech companies, with similar lawsuits also being filed by US news outlets including the New York Times.