Indian Media Groups Join Copyright Lawsuit Against OpenAI

The Delhi High Court will begin hearings on February 21 in a copyright infringement case filed by ANI against OpenAI. Several major news publishers, including HT Digital Streams (Hindustan Times Group), IE Online Media Services (Express Group), NDTV Convergence, and the Digital News Publishers Association, have also joined the lawsuit.

Copyright Infringement Allegations

ANI filed the lawsuit in November, accusing OpenAI of using its copyrighted content without permission to train large language models. The agency claims its original news content is being commercially exploited and is seeking damages of 20 million rupees ($230,000; £185,000), making this India's first copyright dispute involving OpenAI.

OpenAI’s Defense

OpenAI argues that Indian law does not apply to ChatGPT’s operations, as they are based outside the country's jurisdiction. The company maintains that it uses publicly accessible data in line with standard legal practices. OpenAI had sought a court ruling on jurisdiction, but this request was denied.

Potential Industry Impact

With India accounting for 9.5% (28.5 million) of ChatGPT’s 300 million weekly users, the case’s outcome could significantly impact OpenAI’s presence in the country. Experts suggest this lawsuit, along with similar global cases, may prompt courts to scrutinize chatbot data sources more closely. A ruling in favor of ANI could lead to more legal actions and licensing requirements for AI companies, while a decision favoring OpenAI might strengthen its ability to use copyrighted content for AI training.

Global AI Regulation and Context

OpenAI is facing multiple lawsuits worldwide from publishers, artists, and news organizations over alleged unauthorized content use. Governments are increasingly working to regulate AI—Italy temporarily banned ChatGPT in 2023 over data privacy concerns, while the EU passed AI regulations last year. In India, authorities have indicated plans for AI regulation, advising that tools classified as "under-testing" or "unreliable" must secure government approval before launch.

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