Hollywood agencies and unions join NYT lawsuit against OpenAI
Major talent agencies and entertainment unions are backing the New York Times in a legal battle over whether AI companies can use copyrighted content for training.
The short version
- WME, CAA, SAG-AFTRA, and the WGA have all filed briefs supporting the NYT lawsuit.
- The lawsuit accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of using journalism to train models without payment.
- Hollywood argues that a market for licensing already exists with deals like those with Disney.
- The judge will soon decide if the case proceeds to a full trial or summary judgment.
Why it matters
This legal battle will determine if AI companies must pay for the data they use to train models. A victory for Hollywood could create a mandatory licensing framework for all creative content used in AI.
Hollywood enters the fray
Major players in the entertainment industry are now weighing in on the legal battle between the New York Times and AI giants. WME, one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, filed an amicus brief on Friday night to support the lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. This move signals that Hollywood is no longer just watching the AI transition from the sidelines.
WME is not alone in this push. Other heavyweights including CAA, the WGA, and the SAG-AFTRA union have also submitted briefs in the case. These organizations represent the core of the creative economy, and their involvement suggests a unified front regarding how intellectual property should be handled in the age of generative technology.
The involvement of these agencies is particularly notable given their history of advocacy. WME has been a vocal leader in seeking to regulate AI, including lobbying for the NO FAKES Act and publicly opposing OpenAI's Sora video generator. By joining the NYT lawsuit, they are seeking to establish a legal precedent that protects the value of creative work.
The core of the copyright dispute
The lawsuit, which originally began in 2023, centers on the way OpenAI and Microsoft utilize copyrighted material. The New York Times alleges that these companies committed copyright infringement by feeding the outlet's journalism into ChatGPT. The core of the argument is that the AI models were trained on the Times' content without any compensation or permission from the publisher.
OpenAI has defended its actions by claiming that using such data for training constitutes fair use. Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows the use of copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances, such as for commentary or research. However, the Hollywood groups joined by the NYT argue that this defense does not hold legal weight in this specific context.
The agencies argue that the existence of a licensing market proves that the content is not free to take. They point out that OpenAI has already entered into specific licensing deals with other major entities like Disney and News Corp. These deals allow OpenAI to use content legally in exchange for payment, which the Hollywood groups say should be the standard for all such data.
Power dynamics and industry tensions
The legal landscape is further complicated by personal and professional rivalries within the tech and entertainment worlds. Reports indicate that Ari Emanuel, a prominent figure at WME, has expressed significant opposition to OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. This tension is part of a broader conflict involving various Silicon Valley titans and their influence over the direction of AI development.
The industry is also navigating the fallout of previous legal actions involving Elon Musk. While Musk's earlier lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI was unsuccessful, his influence remains a factor in how these companies are perceived. Emanuel, a long-time friend of Musk, even appeared in court to support Musk during that specific trial, highlighting the interconnected nature of these power players.
For Hollywood, the goal is to ensure that their intellectual property remains a valuable asset. By backing the NYT, they are attempting to prevent a situation where AI companies can scrape the internet for free. They want to ensure that if a company wants to use a script, a news article, or a movie, they must negotiate a deal just as they do with traditional distributors.
What happens next in court
The legal timeline is reaching a critical juncture this week. The New York Times recently filed for summary judgment, which is a request for the judge to rule on the case immediately without a full trial. The deadline for all reply briefs, including those from the defendants, is this Friday.
Once the deadline passes, the judge overseeing the case will have to make a significant decision. The judge will either issue a ruling on the merits of the case or order the matter to proceed to a full trial. Because of the high stakes for the media and entertainment industries, this decision is expected to be one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in recent years.
A ruling in favor of the New York Times could set a massive precedent for how AI models are built. It could force companies like OpenAI to overhaul their training methods or pay billions in licensing fees. Conversely, a win for the AI companies could open the door for more widespread use of copyrighted data without the need for individual contracts.
Impact on the creative market
The outcome of this case will likely define the economic model for the next generation of technology. If the courts decide that training AI on copyrighted news is infringement, it will create a
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve extensive testimony and a deep dive into the technical ways that AI models process and
The future of IP
The ultimate goal for the agencies and unions is to protect the livelihoods of the people they represent. They want to ensure that as AI becomes more capable of generating content, the humans who created the original data are not left behind. This lawsuit is their primary tool for ensuring that the value of human creativity is recognized in the digital age.
The licensing standard
The Hollywood groups are pushing for a world where every piece of data used to train an AI has a clear price tag. They believe that the current
The road to a trial
If the judge decides that the case is too complex for a summary judgment, it will head toward a full trial. This would involve
Sources and links
- ReportingPage Six: the article we sourced
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Listen to the daily showsFirst reported by Page Six · Read the original. Written by the SI Agent News Desk from the reporting above.Written with AI from the source above. Every number is checked against the source. Spot a mistake? Corrections.