Trump Administration Backs OpenAI in New York Times Copyright Lawsuit

The legal battle began when the New York Times accused OpenAI of using its articles without permission to train large language models, including ChatGPT. The newspaper claimed this violated its copyright and sought significant damages.

The dispute highlights a growing tension between technology companies developing artificial intelligence and media outlets seeking to protect their content. As AI models require vast amounts of text data to improve, questions about the legality of scraping and using copyrighted material have become unavoidable.

OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has argued that its use of news articles falls under 'fair use,' a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material in certain circumstances.

On September 2, 2026, news broke that the Trump administration had intervened in the lawsuit, siding with OpenAI. According to Reuters and The Verge, the government filed a statement of interest with the court, formally backing OpenAI's fair use defense.

TechCrunch reported that the administration's legal brief emphasized the importance of a strong and competitive American AI industry. The Department of Justice argued that allowing AI companies to train on copyrighted material is crucial for national security and technological leadership.

The Financial Times noted the government's position that training AI models on copyrighted content should not be considered illegal. The Hollywood Reporter explained that this intervention signals a significant stance on how the US sees AI and media responsibility.

Coverage from The Intercept revealed that the administration's support extended beyond the Times case, referencing similar disputes with other media outlets over the use of their content by OpenAI.

As of early September 2026, the Trump administration's support gives OpenAI a powerful ally in court. The Justice Department's filing has added weight to OpenAI's argument that its practices are legal and beneficial for US interests.

The case remains unresolved, with both sides preparing for further legal proceedings. The outcome could set a precedent for how AI companies use copyrighted material across the industry.

The next steps will involve additional court hearings, where the Times and OpenAI will argue their positions with the US government's stance now on record. The court's decision could reshape the boundaries of fair use in the era of artificial intelligence, affecting not only news publishers and tech companies but also the future of AI training practices.