USA Today becomes the latest publisher to sue OpenAI

USA Today Co., along with the several local newspapers it owns, is suing OpenAI over claims that the company copied “hundreds of thousands” of articles to train its AI models, as reported earlier by Reuters . In a filing on Thursday , the publisher asks for damages of more than $250 million, alleging OpenAI’s unauthorized use of its content “has done real and continuing” harm to its outlets.

This is just the latest in a string of copyright lawsuits filed against OpenAI. In addition to a copyright lawsuit filed by The New York Times , OpenAI is also facing legal action from The Intercept , CNET owner Ziff Davis , CBC/Radio-Canada , Encyclopaedia Britannica , Merriam-Webster, The Seattle Times , and a coalition of nearly 400 local newspapers .

“OpenAI’s commercial success rests on large-scale copyright infringement,” USA Today Co.’s lawsuit claims. It alleges that OpenAI never asked for permission to use its content, instead “took” USA Today ’s content to “build products worth hundreds of billions of dollars.” The Tennessean , Indy Star , The Columbus Dispatch , The Oklahoman , and several other local outlets are also included in the lawsuit.

OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to The Verge ’s request for comment.