A coalition of Indian news organizations, including the digital arms of billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, is escalating the legal fight against OpenAI.
The group, which also includes prominent publishers like the Indian Express and the Hindustan Times, has accused the ChatGPT creator of using copyrighted content without authorization, according to legal documents reviewed by Reuters.
The legal challenge comes amid a global wave of copyright disputes, with authors, musicians, and news organizations accusing tech companies of scraping content to train AI models without proper consent or compensation.
In India, the new filing adds significant weight to a lawsuit initiated by news agency ANI last year, making it the country’s most high-profile legal battle against OpenAI. Members of the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA)—representing outlets like NDTV, Network18, and Dainik Bhaskar—allege that OpenAI’s actions pose a “clear and present danger” to their intellectual property.
The 135-page case filing argues that OpenAI has engaged in “willful scraping” of news websites to train its AI tools, while bypassing Indian media for partnership deals similar to those it has signed abroad. OpenAI has reached agreements with outlets such as Time Magazine and the Financial Times internationally but has not extended the same to Indian publishers.
The filing further highlights how OpenAI’s practices exacerbate the “disproportionate power of tech companies” in monopolizing content distribution and advertising revenue, potentially weakening the press and undermining democratic values.
OpenAI has denied allegations of copyright infringement, asserting that its AI systems make fair use of publicly available data. It also contends that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over copyright claims involving its US-based servers.
Responding to ANI’s lawsuit, OpenAI warned that any order to delete training data could conflict with its obligations under US law.
The lawsuit in India mirrors global tensions surrounding generative AI. In December 2023, the New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for allegedly using millions of its articles without permission. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s competitors are forging deals with publishers worldwide, reflecting a growing acknowledgment of the role of original content in AI development.
Indian publishers argue that OpenAI’s refusal to engage with local media partners undermines fairness and transparency. “This conduct… betrays an inexplicable defiance of the law,” the filing states.
Despite the legal challenges, OpenAI continues to expand its footprint in India. Last year, it hired former WhatsApp executive Pragya Misra to oversee public policy and partnerships in a market of 1.4 billion people, where access to affordable mobile data is driving rapid digital adoption.
With a hearing in ANI’s lawsuit scheduled for Tuesday, the outcome of this case could set a precedent for how generative AI companies engage with Indian content creators, potentially reshaping the relationship between tech firms and the global media industry.