NYT slams Microsoft for building copyright-infringing supercomputer for OpenAI

The New York Times filed a motion on Thursday to amend its copyright complaint against OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that Microsoft intentionally facilitated OpenAI's alleged infringement of NYT works. The proposed amendment aims to strengthen the claim of contributory infringement by asserting that Microsoft built a custom supercomputing system specifically to enable OpenAI's development, which the Times contends involved "stealing" its content. This legal maneuver follows a Supreme Court ruling in favor of Cox Communications against Sony, which established a higher bar for proving contributory infringement by requiring plaintiffs to demonstrate intentional inducement of illegal conduct. The NYT's legal team seeks to align its case with this new standard, citing "new law and new evidence uncovered during discovery." Graham James, a spokesperson for The New York Times, stated that the amended complaint "further strengthens our case." The Times' original lawsuit, filed in December 2023, accuses OpenAI and Microsoft of using millions of its copyrighted articles without permission to train AI models.