The Seattle Times and Newsday filed a federal copyright and trademark lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI on September 4, 2026. The complaint alleges the companies used published articles to train generative AI models like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot without permission. This legal action specifically targets the unauthorized use of content located behind digital paywalls.
The lawsuit joins a growing series of cases challenging the fair use doctrine for training large language models. The news organizations stated they must protect content that costs millions of dollars to produce. While the plaintiffs claim they do not wish to block AI innovation, they are seeking compensation for their intellectual property.
A Microsoft spokesperson expressed surprise regarding the lawsuit. The company remains open to exploring potential solutions with content creators.