Science & Tech · Big Tech & Internet · 1 hr ago
Ontario court lets Canadian publishers' copyright case against OpenAI proceed
Ontario’s Court of Appeal rejected OpenAI’s appeal over where a Canadian copyright case should be heard.
The lawsuit can now proceed in Ontario, where a lower court had already ruled it had jurisdiction.
Canadian news publishers say OpenAI used their content to train ChatGPT without permission or payment, and profited from it.
The publishers include The Canadian Press, Torstar, The Globe and Mail, Postmedia and CBC/Radio-Canada.
The case is the first in Canada to address copyrighted material used to train generative AI, and it has been underway since 2024.
OpenAI argued the case should be heard in the United States, but the appeal court said the company had not shown that a Canadian judgment would conflict with US laws.
The lawsuit will continue in Ontario, though the claims have not yet been decided.
News and cultural groups are also urging Canada’s federal government to clarify how copyright law applies to AI, but it has not announced plans to act.
The Ontario Court of Appeal has dismissed OpenAI’s appeal, allowing Canadian publishers’ copyright lawsuit against the company to proceed in Ontario.
The publishers say OpenAI used their news content to train ChatGPT without permission or compensation.
OpenAI argued the case should be heard in a U.S. court.
An Ontario Superior Court judge found that Ontario courts had jurisdiction to hear the case.
The lawsuit, launched in 2024, is the first Canadian case to address using copyrighted content to train generative AI systems.
- Who
- A coalition of Canadian news publishers, including The Canadian Press, Torstar, The Globe and Mail, Postmedia and CBC/Radio-Canada, is suing OpenAI.
- What
- The Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed OpenAI’s appeal, allowing the copyright lawsuit to proceed in Ontario.
- When
- The appeal was dismissed Friday; the lawsuit was launched in 2024.
- Where
- Ontario, Canada.
- Why
- The publishers allege OpenAI used their news content to train ChatGPT without permission or compensation.
Canadian news publishers
OpenAI
Court jurisdiction
Canadian news publishers
The publishers’ case can proceed in Ontario.
OpenAI
OpenAI argued the case should be heard in a U.S. courtroom.
Use of news content
Canadian news publishers
The publishers allege OpenAI used their content to train ChatGPT without permission or compensation.
OpenAI
Not stated.
A coalition of Canadian news publishers launched the lawsuit against OpenAI.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice concluded that Ontario courts had jurisdiction to hear the case.
The Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed OpenAI’s appeal.
- Court
- Ontario Court of Appeal
- Lawsuit launched
- 2024
- Publishers named
- The Canadian Press, Torstar, The Globe and Mail, Postmedia and CBC/Radio-Canada
- AI product
- ChatGPT
What people are saying
the fair and efficient working of the Canadian legal system favoured allowing Canadian authors to bring claims against foreign companies for breaches of Canadian laws.