# USA Today sues OpenAI and Microsoft for $250M over copyrighted journalism in AI training

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-10-27T03:14:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/usa-today-sues-openai-and-microsoft-for-250m-over-copyrighted-journali

## Summary

**USA Today Co. filed a lawsuit on October 8, 2026**, joining the New York Times and Chicago Tribune in suing OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted articles in AI model training. The publisher demands over **$250 million** in damages, claiming the companies scraped content from 19 affiliated publications without permission. The case joins a multidistrict litigation (MDL) involving multiple publishers, where discovery disputes have forced OpenAI to produce **millions of ChatGPT logs and internal documents** under court orders.**

OpenAI defends its practices under **fair use**, arguing its models create something transformative and do not compete directly with publishers. The US Department of Justice intervened in September 2026, backing OpenAI’s position and framing the issue as a matter of **national AI leadership**. Courts are now considering motions for summary judgment on fair use, which could resolve parts of the case without a full trial. The outcome could reshape how AI firms access copyrighted data, with implications for Microsoft’s exposure as a co-defendant.

## Key points

- USA Today Co. sues OpenAI and Microsoft for $250M over alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted articles in AI training
- Discovery orders require OpenAI to hand over **millions of ChatGPT logs and internal documents** to publishers
- US DOJ backs OpenAI’s fair use argument, framing the case as a matter of **national AI competitiveness**

## Why it matters

A ruling against OpenAI could force AI firms to negotiate licenses for copyrighted training data, disrupting current model development practices. Microsoft’s co-defendant status adds financial stakes for investors.

## Sources

1. [OpenAI faces copyright lawsuits from major publications over AI training](https://cryptobriefing.com/openai-copyright-lawsuits-publishers-fair-use) (cryptobriefing.com, 2026-10-27)

## Cite

Digest AI, "USA Today sues OpenAI and Microsoft for $250M over copyrighted journalism in AI training", 27 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/usa-today-sues-openai-and-microsoft-for-250m-over-copyrighted-journali

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