OpenAI to Cover Legal Costs for Copyright Infringement
OpenAI has announced its commitment to covering the legal expenses of business-tier ChatGPT users who face copyright infringement claims. This initiative, called Copyright Shield, specifically applies to users of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Enterprise and its developer platform, excluding free and Plus versions.
The announcement was made by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during the company’s first developer conference, DevDay. Altman stated that OpenAI will step in and defend customers facing legal claims related to copyright infringement, both for ChatGPT Enterprise and the API.
This move by OpenAI aligns with similar efforts by tech giants Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, as well as Adobe and Shutterstock. These companies have also pledged to provide legal support to users accused of copyright infringement.
New Features Announced at DevDay
During DevDay, OpenAI also revealed new features for ChatGPT. Users will soon be able to create custom ChatGPT models and have the option to sell them on an upcoming app store. Additionally, OpenAI introduced an updated AI model called ChatGPT-4 Turbo.
Legal Challenges Faced by OpenAI
OpenAI is currently facing multiple lawsuits alleging the unauthorized use of copyrighted material in training its AI models. Comedian Sarah Silverman and two others filed a lawsuit in July claiming that their copyrighted work was included in ChatGPT’s training data obtained from illegal online libraries.
In September, OpenAI faced two more lawsuits. One class action suit accused OpenAI and Microsoft of using stolen private information for model training, while the Author’s Guild sued OpenAI for “systematic theft” of copyrighted material.
Hot Take: OpenAI Takes a Stand on Copyright Infringement
OpenAI’s commitment to covering the legal costs of copyright infringement claims demonstrates its dedication to supporting its business-tier users. By providing this protection, OpenAI aims to alleviate concerns and encourage the responsible use of its AI technology. This move also aligns with the industry trend of tech companies standing up for users accused of copyright infringement, fostering a more supportive and collaborative environment for AI developers and businesses.