Key holding or allegation
Complaint allegations only; no merits ruling. Plaintiffs filed a statement of relatedness to MDL 3143 on the filing date.
Why it matters
Additional publisher action expanding the developed OpenAI/Microsoft news-content litigation to local and specialist publishers.
Facts
Twenty-six local, regional and specialist news publishers sued Microsoft and OpenAI entities, alleging copying of journalism for training and operation of generative-AI products, reproduction through outputs/RAG and stripping of copyright-management information.
Issues before the court
Whether alleged acquisition and training uses, RAG/output reproduction and CMI-removal practices infringe; whether fair use applies; and whether the action will be coordinated within MDL 3143.
What the court did not decide
All liability, fair-use, CMI, damages and final MDL/related-case treatment issues remain unresolved.
Procedural timeline
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Complaint filed: Twenty-six local, regional and specialist publishers filed copyright and DMCA claims against Microsoft and OpenAI entities concerning alleged scraping, training, RAG/output reproduction and CMI stripping.