# Seattle Times, Newsday Sue OpenAI and Microsoft Over AI Training Data
The Seattle Times and Newsday have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and Microsoft, joining a growing wave of news organizations challenging the tech giants over unauthorized use of copyrighted journalism to train large language models. The complaints mark the latest escalation in a broader legal campaign by publishers to establish precedent around AI training practices and secure compensation.
Both publications accuse OpenAI and Microsoft of scraping their articles without permission and using that content to build and refine ChatGPT and related AI systems. The lawsuits center on claims of copyright infringement and breach of contract. News organizations argue their journalism provides factual foundation for AI responses while they receive zero benefit or revenue from the training process.
This litigation follows similar suits filed by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal publisher News Corp, Chicago Tribune owner Tribune Publishing, and others. The pattern reflects publisher frustration with AI developers' heavy reliance on journalistic content. News organizations contend that OpenAI and Microsoft built competitive advantages by scraping millions of articles without licensing agreements or compensation.
The Seattle Times, serving Washington state's largest metro region, and Newsday, which dominates Long Island coverage, both operate subscription and ad-supported models dependent on original reporting. Both outlets have invested heavily in investigative journalism, sports coverage, and local news. Their legal filings specifically challenge the commercial benefit OpenAI and Microsoft derive from content that required reporters, editors, and substantial newsroom resources to produce.
OpenAI and Microsoft have defended their training practices as falling under fair use doctrine, arguing that machine learning represents a transformative use of source material. The companies contend their AI systems don't simply reproduce journalistic content but synthesize and reorganize information across thousands of sources. Microsoft has also pointed to limited opt-out mechanisms it claims publishers can use to restrict their content from training datasets.
Legal experts remain divided on whether fair use will shield the AI companies. The outcome could reshape how tech developers license content and compensate creators. Several publishers have begun directly licensing content to AI companies, suggesting the market may settle some disputes outside courts.
The lawsuits create pressure on OpenAI and Microsoft as they expand into commercial products generating significant revenue. ChatGPT Plus subscriptions, Microsoft's Copilot integration in Office, and enterprise deployments create tangible value that publishers argue justifies licensing payments. The companies face potential damages awards if courts rule against them, plus the cost and distraction of extended litigation.
Industry observers expect more publishers to file similar suits. Regional newspapers, trade publications, and specialty outlets all depend on original content that could train competing AI systems. The aggregate litigation risk and reputational cost may force OpenAI and Microsoft to the negotiating table with broad publisher coalitions rather than fighting individual cases across multiple jurisdictions.