Don’t buy Big Tech’s ‘we need to steal to beat China in AI’ bull

Big Tech companies, including Google and OpenAI, are lobbying the White House to relax copyright laws that currently require them to pay for using copyrighted material to train AI models. This push comes in the wake of a federal court ruling in the case of Thomson Reuters v. ROSS, which reaffirmed that using copyrighted content without compensation doesn't fall under the 'fair use' doctrine. The court's decision highlighted that fair use is not applicable when the purpose is to compete with the original content creator. Despite Silicon Valley insider David Sacks being appointed as the AI czar by President Trump, it's expected that the administration will resist these demands, arguing that significant investments in AI development indicate that these companies can afford to pay for the intellectual property they use.
The implications of this legal battle are significant for the future of AI development in the United States. If Big Tech's lobbying efforts succeed, it could lead to a shift in copyright policies, potentially disadvantaging content creators and other industries dependent on intellectual property rights. The ongoing lawsuits from The New York Times and Alden Global Capital against OpenAI and Microsoft underscore the tension between AI advancement and copyright protection. As the U.S. positions itself in the global AI race, particularly against China, the resolution of these issues will shape the landscape of innovation and intellectual property in the tech industry.
RATING
The article provides a timely and engaging discussion of the ethical and legal issues surrounding Big Tech's use of copyrighted material for AI training. However, its impact is somewhat diminished by a lack of balanced perspectives and credible sourcing. The story is clear and accessible but leans heavily towards a critical view of Big Tech without providing sufficient evidence or alternative viewpoints. While it addresses issues of public interest and has the potential to provoke meaningful debate, the absence of transparency and comprehensive source attribution limits its overall reliability and effectiveness.
RATING DETAILS
The story makes several claims about Big Tech's use of copyrighted material for AI training and the legal context surrounding it. While it accurately references the federal court ruling in *Thomson Reuters v. ROSS*, which indeed addressed the limits of 'fair use' in competitive scenarios, the story's assertion that Big Tech companies are lobbying for a rollback of copyright laws requires further verification. The claim that Google and OpenAI wrote to the White House about this issue needs direct evidence or citations to confirm its accuracy. Additionally, the mention of ongoing lawsuits by The New York Times and Alden Global Capital against OpenAI and Microsoft is plausible but should be backed by specific legal documents or statements for full accuracy.
The article presents a predominantly critical view of Big Tech, emphasizing their alleged attempts to bypass copyright laws for AI development. It does not provide a balanced perspective by including viewpoints from the companies involved or experts who might argue the benefits of their actions in terms of innovation or economic growth. The story could be more balanced by presenting arguments from Big Tech representatives or legal experts who might justify the use of copyrighted material under certain conditions.
The language of the article is clear and direct, making it relatively easy for readers to follow the main arguments. However, the tone is somewhat sensational, which might detract from an objective presentation of the facts. The structure is logical, with a clear progression from the introduction of the issue to the discussion of its implications, but the use of charged language could impact the perceived neutrality.
The story lacks direct citations or references to authoritative sources that could substantiate its claims. While it mentions court cases and alleged lobbying efforts, it does not provide links to legal documents, official statements, or credible reports that would enhance the reliability of the information presented. The absence of named sources or direct quotes from involved parties weakens the story's credibility.
The article does not clearly disclose the basis for its claims or the sources of its information. It lacks transparency in explaining how the information was obtained, whether through direct reporting, secondary sources, or speculation. Additionally, there is no mention of potential conflicts of interest or biases that might influence the story's perspective, which could help readers assess its impartiality.
Sources
- https://techpolicy.press/how-the-emerging-market-for-ai-training-data-is-eroding-big-techs-fair-use-copyright-defense
- http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=355856http%3A%2F%2Facecomments.mu.nu%2F%3Fpost%3D355856
- https://www.arl.org/blog/training-generative-ai-models-on-copyrighted-works-is-fair-use/
- https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2025/03/18/march-18th-2025-presidential-politics-trump-administration-day-58/comment-page-2/
- http://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=360895http%3A%2F%2Facecomments.mu.nu%2F%3Fpost%3D360895
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