USA Today becomes the latest publisher to sue OpenAI
USA Today becomes the latest publisher to sue OpenAI
USA Today Co., together with several of its local newspapers, is suing OpenAI, accusing it of copying hundreds of thousands of articles without authorization to train AI models and seeking more than $250 million in damages. The suit says OpenAI never sought permission and built products worth hundreds of billions of dollars from its content; local outlets including The Tennessean, Indy Star, The Columbus Dispatch and The Oklahoman are also plaintiffs. OpenAI has not responded to a request for comment.
The publisher is seeking damages of more than $250 million.
The publisher is seeking damages of more than $250 million.
by Emma Roth
Oct 8, 2026, 5:58 PM UTC
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
Emma Roth
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.
USA Today Co., along with the several local newspapers it owns, is suing OpenAI over claims that the company copied “hundreds of thousands” of articles to train its AI models, as reported earlier by Reuters. In a filing on Thursday, the publisher asks for damages of more than $250 million, alleging OpenAI’s unauthorized use of its content “has done real and continuing” harm to its outlets.
“OpenAI’s commercial success rests on large-scale copyright infringement,” USA Today Co.’s lawsuit claims. It alleges that OpenAI never asked for permission to use its content, instead “took” USA Today’s content to “build products worth hundreds of billions of dollars.” The Tennessean, Indy Star, The Columbus Dispatch, The Oklahoman, and several other local outlets are also included in the lawsuit.
OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
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- Emma Roth
Source: The Verge · AI · theverge.com