OpenAI Vs ANI? Data Use Battle Heats Up In India - Details

In a significant legal showdown concerning AI technology, OpenAI has filed an 86-page response in the Delhi High Court, contesting allegations by the local news agency ANI.

The lawsuit, filed in November, accuses OpenAI of unauthorized use of ANI's content to train its ChatGPT model without consent.

Legal Standoff: OpenAI vs. ANI Over ChatGPT Data
OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, argues that any order to remove training data would conflict with its obligations under United States law.

The firm, which maintains no physical presence in India, asserts that the Delhi court lacks jurisdiction over the matter, given its operational servers reside outside India.

According to a filing seen by Reuters, OpenAI clarified, " currently defending litigation in the United States concerning the data on which its models have been trained, with laws there requiring it to preserve the data while hearings are pending."

It also added,  “is therefore under a legal obligation, under the laws of the United States to preserve, and not delete, the said training data.”

Fair Use and Commercial Partnerships
The dispute highlights broader concerns over the fair use of publicly available data in AI training. OpenAI has denied wrongdoing, emphasising its adherence to legal standards and fair use policies. ANI contends that ChatGPT's ability to reproduce verbatim excerpts of its articles poses unfair competition.

ANI, in which Reuters holds a 26% stake, maintains that the Delhi court should determine the case's jurisdiction.

As mentioned in the report by Reuters, OpenAI did not respond to a request for comment.

A spokesperson for Reuters declined to comment immediately on the ongoing legal proceedings.

Future Implications and Industry Response
As the case progresses, both parties await a pivotal hearing scheduled for January 28. OpenAI's transition from non-profit to for-profit status underscores its growing commercial engagements with global media entities, including recent partnerships with Time, Financial Times, and others.

ANI's concerns about unfair competition echo broader anxieties within the media industry regarding AI's transformative impact on content creation and distribution.
The outcome of this legal battle could set precedents for AI governance and intellectual property rights, shaping the future landscape of digital innovation and legal standards globally.

(With Inputs from Reuters)