New Delhi: News agency ANI has sued OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI model ChatGPT, for unauthorised use of its copyrighted content, Hindustan Times reported.

This is the first time an Indian firm has taken legal action against an AI company for an alleged intellectual property rights breach.

ANI has alleged that OpenAI made use of its original news reports to train OpenAI’s large language models (LLMs).

ANI also accused ChatGPT of generating ANI’s news content verbatim when asked, without taking proper permission for such use.

Further, ANI has accused OpenAI of attributing fabricated news false statements to the agency, which it said harms its reputation and creates the risk of dissemination of misinformation that could trigger public disorder.

Responding to the allegations, OpenAI has stressed its pledge to cooperate with news organisations worldwide and in India.

The company stated that its AI models are developed using publicly available data and it takes measures to operate within fair use principles and established legal frameworks. OpenAI asserts that its practices are in line with legal precedents.

However, this isn’t the first legal case against the company behind the popular chatbot model for alleged misuse of copyrighted material by AI companies.

Earlier, The New York Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of using millions of its copyrighted articles without taking proper authorisations for AI training. The case is still in sub-judice.

Raw Story and AlterNet also filed lawsuits against OpenAI seeking the removal of copyright management details. However, a New York federal judge dismissed this case.

A group of eight U.S. newspapers, including the New York Daily News and Chicago Tribune, have alleged that AI companies have been violating copyright laws. This case is also ongoing.

These legal cases bring to light the growing scrutiny of AI firms regarding intellectual property and copyright issues.