Jamie Spencer
Indian book publishers and their international counterparts have filed a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI in New Delhi, alleging unauthorized use of proprietary content to train its ChatGPT chatbot, according to a Reuters report.
Allegations Against OpenAI
The lawsuit, filed in December 2024 at the Delhi High Court, accuses OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, of improperly using copyrighted literary works without permission.
The Federation of Indian Publishers, which includes major publishing houses such as:
- Penguin Random House
- Bloomsbury
- Cambridge University Press
- Pan Macmillan
- Rupa Publications
- S. Chand and Co.
has filed the lawsuit to challenge OpenAI’s alleged misuse of their copyrighted content.
Publishers Demand Compensation and Compliance
The federation argues that OpenAI must cease using their content without proper licensing agreements. Pranav Gupta, the Federation’s general secretary, stated:
“Our ask from the court is that they should stop OpenAI from accessing our copyright content.”
He further added: “If they don’t want to license from us, they should delete datasets used in AI training and explain how we will be compensated. This impacts creativity.”
Legal Proceedings and OpenAI’s Response
The case was initially reviewed by a court registrar in New Delhi, who, on January 10, 2025, directed OpenAI to respond to the allegations. The lawsuit is scheduled for a hearing on January 28.
OpenAI has denied wrongdoing, arguing that its AI systems make fair use of publicly available data. It has also claimed that complying with Indian legal demands could conflict with U.S. legal obligations and that Indian courts lack jurisdiction since OpenAI’s servers are not located in India.
Growing Legal Challenges for OpenAI
The lawsuit follows a similar case filed by Indian news agency ANI in November 2024, accusing OpenAI of unauthorized use of its news content to train ChatGPT.
In response, OpenAI filed an 86-page defense at the Delhi High Court on January 10, contesting ANI’s demand to delete data from ChatGPT.
Implications for AI and Copyright Laws
The federation insists that since OpenAI provides services in India, it must comply with Indian copyright laws, regardless of where its servers are based.
As legal battles over AI training data intensify, the case could set a precedent for copyright protection in the AI era.
Conclusion
With Indian and global publishers joining forces to challenge OpenAI, the lawsuit highlights the growing concerns over AI’s impact on copyright and intellectual property. The upcoming court proceedings will determine whether OpenAI must change its data training methods or face stricter regulations in India.
