The New York Times Sues OpenAI Over ChatGPT's Use of Articles
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The New York Times is suing OpenAI for copyright infringement over ChatGPT's use of Times articles in its training data. This pits the Times as a "life force of liberal democracy" against a "Big Tech destroyer".
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There are 3 possible outcomes a verdict (unlikely), congressional action (also unlikely), or a settlement. A settlement seems most probable despite both sides' strong positions.
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The Times wants massive recurring licensing fees that could reach billions. OpenAI wants to make a large one-time payment but avoid ongoing royalties.
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Both sides have some existential risk if things go badly, which may motivate a deal. The author proposes OpenAI granting news orgs a small equity stake in exchange for content access.
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The author predicts a settlement within months, but it will require compromise as neither side is likely to fully achieve their goals. The least entertaining outcome is probably the most likely.