The Three Biggest Korean Broadcasting Stations Are Suing OpenAi, Here Is Why
The three major terrestrial broadcasters — KBS, MBC, and SBS— have filed a lawsuit against global AI platform OpenAI seeking an injunction to stop copyright infringement and demanding damages. They claim that OpenAI’s ChatGPT used their news content without permission for training, thereby infringing on the companies’ interests.
On the 23rd of February, the Korea Broadcasters Association stated, “The three terrestrial broadcasters are filing this lawsuit to hold legal responsibility for intellectual property infringement, as their news content — which constitutes their core asset and achievement — has been used in large quantities without authorization and exposed through services.”
They continued, “OpenAI is earning astronomical profits through its GPT services and is entering into paid licensing agreements with media outlets around the world for the purpose of developing and operating generative AI. The company is fully aware that it is obligated to obtain lawful and valid licenses to use news content.” They added, “Nevertheless, OpenAI has completely refused negotiations with the three broadcasters and is maintaining a discriminatory copyright policy.”
This lawsuit marks the first time the three terrestrial broadcasters have jointly filed a lawsuit against a global AI company. Through this legal action, they aim to protect the rights of creators and copyright holders and establish a fair compensation system. They explained that, considering the reality that individual creators and copyright holders face difficulties in filing lawsuits against global big tech companies due to enormous litigation costs and burdens of proof, the three broadcasters decided to respond jointly.
The association emphasized, “It cannot be justified in the name of innovation for global big tech companies, backed by massive capital and technology, to use the intellectual assets accumulated over decades by media organizations in other countries without authorization and convert them into their own commercial profits.” They also stressed that this lawsuit is directly connected to the issue of South Korea’s data sovereignty.
Source: (A)
