Copia Institute Says Copyright Law Can't Address AI Training Challenges
Copia Institute argues copyright law is unsuitable for AI training in SDNY litigation.
Why it matters: This litigation could reshape legal standards for AI training and liability, impacting tech firms and news publishers.
- Copia Institute filed an amicus brief arguing copyright law is ill-suited for AI training regulation in SDNY case 1:25-md-03143.
- The New York Times and other publishers sued OpenAI and Microsoft for alleged unauthorized content use to train AI models.
- News/Media Alliance supports publishers, calling the issue "existential" for news media, while Open Markets Institute warns of competitive harms.
- Judge Sidney H. Stein oversees the multidistrict litigation consolidating these claims in the Southern District of New York.
The Copia Institute submitted an amicus brief in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) arguing that existing copyright laws are inadequate for regulating AI training practices. This brief was filed in the multidistrict litigation In re: OpenAI, Inc., Copyright Infringement Litigation (case no. 1:25-md-03143), where news publishers including The New York Times accuse OpenAI and Microsoft of using their content without permission to train AI models.
The New York Times lodged its complaint on December 27, 2023, alleging unauthorized use of proprietary content. Judge Sidney H. Stein is presiding over this consolidated litigation in SDNY.
Other industry groups have also filed amicus briefs. The News/Media Alliance supports the publishers, highlighting the potentially "existential" threat that AI training without proper licenses poses to news organizations. Danielle Coffey, its President and CEO, characterized the matter as vital for the survival of news media.
The Open Markets Institute submitted a brief warning that unauthorized AI training may give large companies an unfair competitive edge over smaller publishers and AI developers, potentially violating copyright law.
In contrast, the Copia Institute challenges the suitability of applying traditional copyright frameworks to AI training. Their brief emphasizes the complexity of AI development and suggests copyright law is not equipped to address these technological issues. Although the complete arguments have not been publicly disclosed, Copia's filing signals a call for rethinking AI regulation within intellectual property law.
The court’s decision could establish critical precedent over how AI companies use copyrighted material for training and clarify liability risks in legal tech and AI sectors.
By the numbers:
- December 27, 2023 — New York Times filed copyright suit against OpenAI and Microsoft
- 1:25-md-03143 — SDNY multidistrict litigation case number for AI copyright lawsuits
- Sidney H. Stein — judge overseeing the consolidated SDNY AI copyright litigation
What's next: The SDNY court is expected to hear motions addressing copyright applicability in AI training in the coming months, shaping future AI content use policies.