Overview
OpenAI copyright lawsuits — MDL 3143, In re OpenAI, Inc., Copyright Infringement Litigation, S.D.N.Y., Judge Sidney H. Stein (per JPML). Plaintiffs, including The New York Times, allege OpenAI (and in some cases Microsoft) copied copyrighted works to train its models and reproduced them in outputs without authorization (per complaints). The consolidated MDL is active; in September 2026 the DOJ filed a Statement of Interest arguing that copying written works for AI training can be fair use, separating training-stage copying from acquisition, storage and output questions (per AI Vortex). The ruling is pending; we track the public record only.
Status of the science / claims: Copyright, not tort: the dispute concerns whether copying copyrighted works to train AI models is fair use and how model outputs relate to source materials (per court filings).
Key people
Companies involved
Settlement amounts
No settlement or damages amount is on the public record as of September 2026; the DOJ’s fair-use Statement of Interest is advocacy, not a ruling (per AI Vortex). No amount can be promised.
Key dates
- September 1, 2026DOJ files a Statement of Interest arguing training-stage copying can be fair use (per AI Vortex, Sep 3 2026)
- January 1, 2025Related copyright suits consolidated into MDL 3143, S.D.N.Y., Judge Sidney H. Stein (per JPML and CourtListener)
- December 27, 2023The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft over copyright (per complaint)
Updates
- Updated Sep 3, 2026New case (Sep 2026): MDL 3143 (S.D.N.Y.) — DOJ Statement of Interest argues AI training copying can be fair use (per AI Vortex); NYT v. OpenAI pending.
Notable filings
No notable filings recorded yet. Docket entries are added from public court records as they appear.
FAQ
What is the OpenAI copyright lawsuit?
A consolidated MDL 3143 (S.D.N.Y.) over whether OpenAI’s copying of copyrighted works to train AI models is fair use; The New York Times is a lead plaintiff (per complaints and JPML).
What did the DOJ say in 2026?
On September 1, 2026 the DOJ filed a Statement of Interest arguing that copying written works to train an AI model can be fair use, while leaving acquisition, storage and output questions distinct (per AI Vortex).
Has there been a ruling?
No decision on the merits has been issued as of September 2026; the case is in motion practice (per AI Vortex and court records).
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