Trump administration files 20-page brief backing OpenAI in NYT copyright training lawsuit
The Trump administration filed a twenty-page amicus brief supporting OpenAI in The New York Times' federal copyright lawsuit, arguing that training large language models on copyrighted works is generally fair use. Reporting describes the filing as a defense of OpenAI's unlicensed use of copyrighted material for model training in a case before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The brief states the United States has a strong interest in developing a robust, competitive artificial intelligence industry that sets global standards for AI practice. The filing is procedural advocacy, not a court ruling, so it does not resolve the dispute or bind the judge. Still, federal alignment with OpenAI signals how U.S. policy may weigh fair-use arguments in high-stakes publisher litigation.
Trump administration files 20-page brief backing OpenAI in NYT copyright training lawsuit
In a lawsuit that The New York Times filed against OpenAI, the Trump administration has contributed a 20-page brief in defense of the ChatGPT maker's unlicensed use of copyrighted material to train its LLMs. This new Trump administration brief is not a ruling, as the case is being tried in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Key takeaway
Federal executive-branch advocacy now backs OpenAI's fair-use defense in the NYT training-data case, but the brief itself carries no binding legal force.
What happened
The Trump administration contributed a twenty-page brief supporting OpenAI in a lawsuit The New York Times filed over the ChatGPT maker's unlicensed use of copyrighted material to train large language models, according to TechCrunch reporting on the Southern District of New York case.
Reuters and Techmeme coverage, citing Blake Brittain, report the administration argued training LLMs on copyrighted works is generally fair use. The brief cites a U.S. interest in a competitive AI industry that sets global practice standards, but reporting stresses the filing is not a ruling.
Evidence
The Trump administration filed a twenty-page brief defending OpenAI's unlicensed use of copyrighted material for LLM training in the NYT lawsuit.
TechCrunch AI · attributed
In a lawsuit that The New York Times filed against OpenAI, the Trump administration has contributed a 20-page brief in defense of the ChatGPT maker's unlicensed use of copyrighted material to train its LLMs.
The administration brief argues training LLMs on copyrighted works is generally fair use.
Techmeme · attributed
The Trump administration files a brief supporting OpenAI in its dispute with The New York Times, saying training LLMs on copyrighted works is generally fair use
The brief frames a U.S. interest in a competitive AI industry that sets global AI practice standards.
TechCrunch AI · attributed
"The United States has a strong interest in continuing to develop a robust and competitive artificial intelligence industry that sets the standard for the practice and procedure of AI use globally," the brief reads.
The filing is not a court ruling and the case remains before the Southern District of New York.
TechCrunch AI · attributed
This new Trump administration brief is not a ruling, as the case is being tried in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Reuters reports the U.S. government backs OpenAI in the New York Times copyright case.
Reuters AI · attributed
US government backs OpenAI in New York Times copyright case
Why it matters
A federal fair-use endorsement in a flagship publisher suit could shape how courts, licensors, and model builders assess training-data risk while the NYT case proceeds.
Limits and uncertainties
The brief is not a ruling and does not decide the NYT v. OpenAI dispute.
Available packet excerpts do not state the judge's response or a trial timeline.
Reuters details in the packet are limited to headline-level confirmation via Google News.
Practical implications
Teams building or deploying LLMs should treat U.S. fair-use arguments as increasingly contested but still unresolved in this SDNY case.
Publishers and licensors may factor federal advocacy into settlement and licensing strategy even before any judgment.
Compliance reviews should separate executive-branch position papers from binding precedent.
What to watch
Whether the Southern District of New York court cites or responds to the administration's fair-use argument.
Further filings or rulings in The New York Times lawsuit against OpenAI.
Whether other publishers or rightsholders file opposing amicus briefs in the same case.
