Bollywood Music Labels Take Legal Action Against OpenAI Over Copyright Violations

India's leading Bollywood music labels, including T-Series, Saregama, and Sony Music, have moved to challenge OpenAI in an ongoing copyright lawsuit in New Delhi, raising concerns over unauthorized AI training on copyrighted music recordings.

Legal Battle Over AI’s Use of Copyrighted Content

The lawsuit, initially filed by Indian news agency ANI, accuses OpenAI of using news content without permission to train its AI models. Now, the Indian Music Industry (IMI) group and leading record labels are pushing for their concerns on sound recordings to be heard in court.

In legal filings reviewed by Reuters, the music labels argued that OpenAI’s AI systems could extract lyrics, music compositions, and sound recordings from the internet, violating copyright protections. They insist that the case has global implications for the music industry.

OpenAI Under Global Copyright Scrutiny

This move follows similar copyright challenges worldwide:

• Germany’s GEMA sued OpenAI in November 2024 over ChatGPT's alleged unlicensed reproduction of song lyrics.

• Book publishers and media groups, backed by Indian billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, have joined ANI’s lawsuit against OpenAI.

• OpenAI, which operates from the US and has servers abroad, has opposed the ANI lawsuit, arguing that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over its operations.

AI vs. Bollywood: A Clash Over Music Rights

India’s music industry, valued at billions, is deeply concerned about AI's impact on copyrighted content.

• T-Series, India's largest music label, releases around 2,000 songs annually.

• Saregama, with a 100-year-old legacy, owns iconic recordings from legends like Mohammed Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar.

• The IMI group represents major international players like Sony Music and Warner Music.

An industry insider, speaking anonymously, stated that AI tools must not be allowed to freely extract copyrighted content from the internet, as it threatens the intellectual property rights of music creators.

The Case That Could Shape India’s AI Copyright Laws

With AI’s rapid expansion and DeepSeek’s entry into the AI space, OpenAI faces increasing legal pressure.

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman recently visited India, meeting government officials to discuss affordable AI development. However, this legal battle could reshape how AI companies access and use copyrighted content in India.

The next hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled for February 21, 2025. The outcome could set a crucial precedent for AI and copyright laws in India.

 

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