The Korea Broadcasters Association said on Feb. 23 that Korea's three terrestrial broadcasters, KBS, MBC and SBS, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI seeking an injunction to stop copyright infringement and damages over the unauthorized use of their news content.

The three broadcasters claim OpenAI used their news content without permission to train the generative AI service ChatGPT. It is the first time a Korean broadcaster has filed a lawsuit against a global AI company.

The association said OpenAI signed paid licensing deals with overseas media companies such as News Corporation, but has refused negotiations with the three broadcasters. "OpenAI is likely fully aware that it has an obligation to obtain a lawful licence to use content," the association said, adding that it is nonetheless maintaining a discriminatory copyright policy.

The association also stressed that it is stepping in to protect rights on behalf of individual creators and copyright holders who find it difficult to stand up to global big tech companies due to litigation costs and the burden of proof. "Using knowledge assets accumulated over decades without permission to gain commercial profit cannot be justified in the name of innovation," it said, defining the lawsuit as a matter of data sovereignty.

The three broadcasters and the association plan to use the lawsuit to urge the creation of a fair compensation system for the harmonious development of the AI industry and journalism.