Seattle Times and Newsday sue OpenAI and Microsoft over using their journalism to train AI; both fund Seattle Times (Todd Bishop/GeekWire)
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| Source: Techmeme | Original article
The Seattle Times and Newsday have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming the firms used the papers' journalism to train AI models, despite Microsoft’s funding ties to the Seattle Times.
The Seattle Times Co. and Newsday have filed a federal lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing the two firms of training large‑language‑model systems on the newspapers’ copyrighted articles without permission. The complaint, lodged on Friday, alleges copyright infringement and seeks monetary damages as well as the destruction of any AI models that were built using the outlets’ journalism. The filing also highlights that Microsoft is a financial backer of the Seattle Times, underscoring a potential conflict of interest.
As we reported on September 6, 2026, the same two publications launched legal action against the AI giants; the new filing adds detail about the specific claims of unauthorized use and the demand for model deletion. The plaintiffs argue that the unchecked harvesting of news content by generative‑AI tools threatens the viability of the journalism industry, describing the technology as “a snake eating its own tail” that could “break the industry beyond repair.”
The case matters because it tests the boundaries of copyright law in the era of AI. If the court rules in favor of the newspapers, OpenAI and Microsoft could face substantial financial liability and be forced to overhaul how they source training data. A ruling could also set a precedent that prompts other media organisations to pursue similar actions, potentially reshaping the data‑collection practices of AI developers worldwide.
What to watch next: the docket for motions on the scope of the alleged infringement, any settlement talks between the parties, and statements from industry groups about data‑use policies. Regulators in the United States and Europe are also monitoring the dispute, which may influence forthcoming AI‑related legislation and standards for transparent model training.
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