# OpenAI, Microsoft executive quotes threaten copyright defense, news outlets argue

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-09-17T14:46:00Z · updated 2026-09-18T11:10:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/openai-microsoft-executive-quotes-threaten-copyright-defense-news-outl

## Summary

Previously redacted court filings made public on Thursday reveal that OpenAI and Microsoft executives privately described their AI systems as substitutes for journalism. The New York Times and other news outlets argue these quotes gut the tech companies' fair-use defense in their ongoing Manhattan federal copyright lawsuit. The publishers claim the evidence shows the companies knew their actions were wrong.

Among the unsealed quotes, OpenAI's head of ChatGPT, Nick Turley, reportedly stated that publishers face an "existential threat" from products that are "largely substitutive." Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella agreed under oath that chatbot conversations substitute for visiting underlying source websites. Additionally, Microsoft's director of applied science, Brent Hecht, reportedly said millions of people would consider AI training to be "an astonishing theft of unprecedented proportions."

Microsoft responded that Nadella's comments spoke to broad information-consumption trends rather than legal copyright conclusions, and dismissed Hecht's quote as an individual perspective. OpenAI spokespeople did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

## Key points

- Unsealed court filings show OpenAI and Microsoft executives privately called AI products substitutes for journalism.
- Nick Turley reportedly stated that ChatGPT poses an "existential threat" and is "largely substitutive" to publishers.
- Microsoft defended Satya Nadella's testimony as consistent with its legal position, describing it as broad observations.

## Why it matters

This development could severely weaken the fair-use defense of AI companies, potentially forcing them to pay billions in licensing fees or alter how they train models.

## Sources

1. [OpenAI, Microsoft executives' quotes on AI training threaten copyright defense, news outlets argue](https://aol.com/articles/openai-microsoft-executives-quotes-ai-214427000.html) (aol.com, 2026-09-17)
2. [OpenAI and Microsoft knew AI posed existential threat to publishers](https://yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/openai-microsoft-knew-ai-posed-181056864.html) (yahoo.com, 2026-09-18)

Part of the developing story: [AI Copyright Clash and Commercial Doom](https://digestai.news/thread/openai-microsoft-executive-quotes-threaten-copyright-defense-news-outlets-argue) (3 stories)

## Cite

Digest AI, "OpenAI, Microsoft executive quotes threaten copyright defense, news outlets argue", 17 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/openai-microsoft-executive-quotes-threaten-copyright-defense-news-outl

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Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record. Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse
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