• by Ray Schultz , May 27, 2024

News Corp.’s deal with OpenAI supports the contention by the New York Times that publishers should be paid when their work is used for AI, Times lawyers say.

“The Times is pleased to see that OpenAI increasingly acknowledges this industry-wide problem and is paying publishers for their work,” a Times spokesperson told Legaltech News. 

The spokesperson adds, “We hope Microsoft will follow suit. It is important for all industry participants to be at the table and for the subsequent deals to adequately reflect the value of high-quality journalism.”

News Corp. announced the deal last Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal, a News Corp. publication, reported that the arrangement is worth more than $250 million over five years.

OpenAI will be allowed to display material from News Corp. in response to user questions.

“OpenAI is yet again acknowledging through its actions what The Times has alleged in its complaint: You can’t take this content for free,” says Davida Brook, Susman Godfrey partner and Times' co-lead counsel, according to Legaltech news. 

As part of the arrangement, OpenAI will gain access to current and archived content from The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch, Investor’s Business Daily, FN, New York Post, The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun, The Australian, news.com.au, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail, The Advertiser, Herald Sun, and other products. 

However, the partnership does not include content from News Corp’s other businesses.

OpenAI recently signed agreements with Dotdash Meredith,  Financial Times and Axel Springer, allowing forms of content usage. In addition to the Times, it has been sued by eight Alden Global Capital newspapers.