New Delhi, January 25, 2025 — In a landmark legal battle, leading Indian and international book publishers, under the aegis of the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP), have initiated legal proceedings against OpenAI in the Delhi High Court. The lawsuit seeks to prohibit OpenAI’s ChatGPT from accessing proprietary content without obtaining proper licensing agreements.
Prominent publishers involved in the litigation include Bloomsbury, Penguin Random House, Cambridge University Press, Pan Macmillan, Rupa Publications, and S. Chand and Co. The publishers have demanded that OpenAI either cease using their copyrighted material entirely or provide adequate compensation for its use. The publishers argue that OpenAI has used their proprietary content to train its AI systems without authorization, which they claim constitutes copyright infringement.
OpenAI has rejected the allegations, stating that its AI systems utilize publicly available data in compliance with the principles of fair use. The company further emphasized that it does not intentionally scrape or use proprietary content without permission. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for January 28, 2025, in the Delhi High Court.
This lawsuit marks the second legal action against OpenAI in India in recent months. In November 2024, Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI) filed a similar lawsuit against the company, accusing it of unauthorized use of its published content for training ChatGPT. ANI also alleged that ChatGPT attributed fabricated news stories to the agency, causing reputational damage.
In its defense, OpenAI argued that complying with a potential order to remove ANI’s content from its training data would conflict with its legal obligations under U.S. law. OpenAI also claimed that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the company, as it has no physical operations in India. The ANI lawsuit is set to be heard alongside the publishers’ case on January 28, 2025, creating a high-stakes courtroom showdown.
A Broader Legal Battle
These legal challenges in India are part of a growing global trend in which authors, publishers, news outlets, and musicians are taking legal action against AI companies for alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted works in training datasets. Notable lawsuits in the United States and Europe have highlighted the complex intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property law, raising questions about the boundaries of fair use and the ethical obligations of AI firms.
For instance, in the United States, major publishing houses and authors have accused OpenAI and other companies of using their copyrighted works without permission, prompting debates on whether such use violates copyright laws or falls under fair use provisions. Similarly, lawsuits by musicians and artists have sought to address how generative AI tools utilize creative works for training and production.
Implications for AI and Copyright Law
The outcomes of the ongoing cases in the Delhi High Court are expected to set significant legal precedents, particularly in India, where copyright laws are relatively strict and focused on protecting creators’ rights. The Federation of Indian Publishers has emphasized the need for stronger regulations to ensure that emerging technologies, such as generative AI, operate within the boundaries of intellectual property law.
Globally, the results of such lawsuits are anticipated to influence how governments and legal systems address the rapidly evolving challenges posed by artificial intelligence. Industry experts believe that the rulings could reshape how AI companies approach licensing agreements and data usage practices, potentially mandating greater transparency and accountability.
As the January 28 hearings approach, all eyes will be on the Delhi High Court, with stakeholders from across the publishing, news, and tech industries awaiting decisions that could have far-reaching implications for the future of artificial intelligence and intellectual property rights.
