Science & Tech · AI · 3 hrs ago
Four unions urge judge to reject blanket fair-use protection for AI training
Four unions asked a federal judge to reject blanket fair-use protection for training AI models on copyrighted work.
The groups are SAG-AFTRA, the American Federation of Music, and the Writers Guild of America East and West.
Their request is part of a copyright case against OpenAI brought by news outlets and writers in New York City.
The unions say a blanket exemption could let AI companies use work without a licence and shift value away from creators.
They argue fair use should be decided case by case, rather than through a rule covering all AI training.
The unions also say a blanket ruling could undermine negotiated rights for writers and actors to receive notice and bargain over certain third-party licences.
The judge has yet to rule on the unions’ request; the case is ongoing.
Four unions urged a federal judge to reject a blanket fair-use exemption for training AI models.
SAG-AFTRA, the American Federation of Music, and the Writers Guild of America East and West jointly filed an amicus brief.
The filing is part of a copyright infringement case against OpenAI brought by news outlets and writers.
The unions argue that fair use should be decided case by case to protect creators and their work.
They warn that a blanket exemption could transfer value from creators to corporations and undermine negotiated licensing terms.
- Who
- SAG-AFTRA, the American Federation of Music, and the Writers Guild of America East and West.
- What
- They filed an amicus brief urging a judge to reject a categorical fair-use exemption for AI training.
- When
- Thursday. The article was published on October 30, 2026.
- Where
- In a federal copyright case based in New York City.
- Why
- The unions say blanket fair use could harm creators and undermine negotiated terms for licensing their work.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
AI was a major issue during the unions' strikes.
The unions sought language to define the emerging AI licensing market.
The four unions filed an amicus brief in the OpenAI copyright case.
- Unions filing brief
- SAG-AFTRA, American Federation of Music, WGA East and WGA West
- Filing length
- 34 pages
- Case
- Copyright infringement action against OpenAI
- Key request
- Reject a categorical fair-use exemption for AI training
- Published
- October 30, 2026
What people are saying
The harms of unlicensed training fall not just on companies like the News Plaintiffs, but on the countless professionals behind the work.
ultimately, this AI training dispute is ‘no more than an ordinary copyright case’ and should be treated as such
A ruling here that training is categorically fair use would render moot the terms the unions and the industry agreed to at the bargaining table.