Introduction
OpenAI and Microsoft are currently involved in multiple copyright lawsuits, which have been consolidated under Judge Sidney H [7]. Stein in the Southern District of New York [1] [5] [6] [7] [8]. These cases primarily concern allegations of unauthorized use of copyrighted content by OpenAI, particularly in the development of its AI service [4], ChatGPT [3] [4] [5]. The outcome of these lawsuits could have significant implications for the news industry and the future of AI technologies [4].
Description
OpenAI is transferring all copyright lawsuits against it and Microsoft to Judge Sidney H. Stein in the Southern District of New York [1] [5] [6] [7] [8], who will oversee a total of 12 lawsuits against OpenAI and 11 against Microsoft, with the exception of one lawsuit from Raw Story Media that is solely against OpenAI. Judge Stein [1] [2] [5] [7] [8], already managing cases involving the New York Times [2], the New York Daily News [6], and the Authors Guild [2], has allowed the New York Times’ copyright lawsuit against OpenAI to proceed, rejecting the company’s motions to dismiss claims of direct infringement [6], contributory copyright infringement [1] [3] [4] [5] [6], and trademark dilution [1] [6]. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI unlawfully utilized the newspaper’s content [4] [6], particularly in the development of its AI service [4], ChatGPT [3] [4] [5], without permission or payment [3] [4] [5]. While narrowing the lawsuit’s overall scope [6], Judge Stein permitted the main copyright infringement claims to continue [4] [5], which is seen as a significant win for the New York Times, raising substantial concerns for the news industry regarding the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on readership and advertising revenue [5].
As AI technology rapidly evolves [1], companies require vast amounts of content for model development [1]. OpenAI and other tech firms argue that existing copyright protections are overly restrictive and could hinder US AI advancement [1], potentially allowing other countries [1], like China [1], to gain a competitive edge [1]. In response, numerous Hollywood creatives have expressed concerns about the implications for the entertainment industry if copyright laws are not upheld [1]. The New York Times maintains that existing copyright laws provide a sufficient framework for their claims and has expressed appreciation for the judge’s consideration in pursuing claims against OpenAI and Microsoft for the alleged unauthorized use of millions of their works [1].
Pretrial activity for these multiple copyright cases will be consolidated under Judge Stein [8], who will oversee discovery and public pretrial hearings to address disputes over evidence, assisted by Magistrate Judge Ona T [7]. Wang [7] [8]. OpenAI’s request for the transfer aims to streamline the legal process [2], including anticipated summary judgment motions [7]. Meanwhile [2], a decision by Judge Rakoff allows a DMCA claim to proceed in Intercept v [2]. OpenAI [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8], contrasting with Judge McMahon’s dismissal of Raw Story’s complaint due to lack of standing for the DMCA claim [2]. Legal considerations in the case will include the concept of fair use [3], which requires that any use of copyrighted material must be transformative or provide commentary on the original work [3]. The Times contends that OpenAI’s reproduction of its articles does not qualify as “transformative” under copyright law [5], while OpenAI argues that interactions with its chatbot do not reflect typical user behavior [5]. The plaintiffs’ attorney has expressed confidence in presenting their case [6], highlighting the alleged profits OpenAI and Microsoft have gained from the newspapers’ original content [6].
As the lawsuit progresses [4], evidence gathering will include confidential depositions [4] [5], and the case will move forward to trial [5], although a date has not yet been set [5]. The outcome could have significant implications for both the news industry and the future of AI technologies [4], as OpenAI defends its practices by invoking the “fair use” doctrine [6], asserting that it uses publicly available data in a manner that supports innovation and collaborates with publishers to respect their content preferences [6]. Additionally, the legal representatives for the publishers argue that OpenAI’s use of The New York Times’ articles constitutes a violation of copyright laws [3] [4], as the newspaper’s content is believed to be a major source for the AI’s training data [3]. During a previous hearing [3], the publishers’ lawyers contended that ChatGPT often reproduced articles verbatim when queried about topics covered by The Times [3], while OpenAI’s legal team emphasized that the publishers manipulated prompts to elicit extensive text outputs from the chatbot [3], which functions as a large language model rather than a document retrieval system [3].
Conclusion
The consolidation of these copyright lawsuits under Judge Stein highlights the growing tension between AI development and copyright law. The decisions made in these cases could set important precedents for how AI companies use copyrighted material, potentially reshaping the landscape of both the news industry and AI technology. As the legal proceedings continue, the balance between innovation and intellectual property rights remains a critical issue.
References
[1] https://deadline.com/2025/03/new-york-times-copyright-lawsuit-against-openai-can-proceed-1236351791/
[2] https://chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/2025/04/03/big-news-openai-is-transferring-all-copyright-suits-to-judge-sydney-stein-in-multi-district-litigation-judge-mcmahon-rejects-raw-story-medias-proposed-amended-dmca-claim-as-lacking-art-iii-standi/
[3] https://www.whro.org/2025-03-26/judge-allows-new-york-times-copyright-case-against-openai-to-go-forward
[4] https://www.wgbh.org/news/2025-03-26/judge-allows-new-york-times-copyright-case-against-openai-to-go-forward
[5] https://www.npr.org/2025/03/26/nx-s1-5288157/new-york-times-openai-copyright-case-goes-forward
[6] https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-tech/federal-judge-allows-new-york-times-openai-lawsuit-proceed
[7] https://chatgptiseatingtheworld.com/2025/04/05/updated-map-of-40-us-copyright-suits-v-ai-companies-with-transfer-of-all-suits-v-openai-to-judge-stein/
[8] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/openai-copyright-lawsuits-discovery-consolidated-in-new-york
