India’s leading news organisations, including The Indian Express, The Hindu, India Today Group, and NDTV, are seeking to join a lawsuit against OpenAI for allegedly using their content without permission. The case, initially filed by Asian News International (ANI) in November, marks the first legal challenge of its kind in India. ANI has accused OpenAI’s ChatGPT of unlawfully using its copyrighted material and is demanding ₹2 crore ($230,000) in damages.
OpenAI denies the allegations, claiming it uses publicly available data within legal norms. However, the case has broader implications as ChatGPT’s expansion in India collides with copyright concerns. News organisations argue that OpenAI’s use of Indian media content, which includes reports from 450 news channels and 17,000 newspapers, enriches the chatbot unfairly.
Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman visited Delhi this week to discuss India’s AI strategy with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, calling India a crucial market. Legal experts believe the outcome of this case could shape AI regulation and media rights globally. If ANI wins, AI firms may need to license content, whereas a ruling in OpenAI’s favor could expand AI’s access to copyrighted material.
