US government backs OpenAI in dispute over training LLMs with copyrighted material
claude copyright gemini openai training
| Source: HN | Original article
The U.S. government has aligned with OpenAI, supporting its stance that training large language models on copyrighted works is permissible.
The U.S. government has formally backed OpenAI’s position that training large language models on copyrighted works qualifies as fair use. In a statement released by the Trump administration, officials argued that the massive datasets feeding models such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are “extraordinarily transformative,” reshaping source material in ways that do not directly compete with the original publications. The administration warned that a narrower interpretation of copyright law would choke AI research, raise licensing costs and concentrate power in the hands of a few large firms.
The stance matters because it touches the core of ongoing disputes between AI developers and publishers. Earlier this week, OpenAI faced a series of lawsuits from news organisations, including a high‑profile case brought by The New York Times. As we reported on 3 September, the administration’s view that OpenAI’s use does not harm the market for the original articles could set a precedent for how courts treat AI training data across the industry. If upheld, the fair‑use argument could keep the current model of open‑source data collection alive, preserving rapid innovation but also leaving rights‑holders without clear compensation mechanisms.
The next weeks will likely see the issue tested in court and in further legislative hearings. Watch for rulings in the New York Times case, any new filings from other publishers, and potential regulatory proposals from the Federal Trade Commission or the Copyright Office. How the balance between intellectual‑property protection and AI advancement is struck will shape the competitiveness of U.S. AI firms on the global stage.
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