OpenAI defends against ANI copyright allegations in Delhi

OpenAI is defending itself against accusations from the news agency ANI. ANI claims that OpenAI is misusing its content for training its AI chatbot, ChatGPT. OpenAI argues that it only uses ANI's content for search purposes and has already taken steps to block its domain to limit any further use. In a recent court hearing, OpenAI’s lawyer, Amit Sibal, stated that using ANI's material for search does not count as copyright infringement. He emphasized that the search results don't reproduce ANI’s original content. Sibal argued there cannot be copyright over news that is freely available. ANI’s lawyer, Siddhant Kumar, countered that OpenAI is still using ANI’s content without permission, despite their earlier promise to block it. He asserted that even if ANI has licensed its content to others, it still holds copyright over it. ANI is seeking a court order to stop OpenAI from using its material and to delete any previously stored content. This case is significant, with various industry groups supporting ANI's stance. The outcome may shape how copyright laws apply to AI and protect news agencies' work. OpenAI has agreements with some publishers globally but has not made similar deals in India. The Delhi high court has reviewed the arguments and is set to hear the case again on March 28. The court also appointed independent experts due to the complex legal issues involved. OpenAI has previously requested the court to dismiss the case, claiming that its use of data falls within a "non-expressive" framework.