IGN and CNET owner Ziff Davis sues OpenAI

The Verge - Apr 24th, 2025

Ziff Davis, a major digital media company, has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of copyright infringement. The lawsuit claims that OpenAI has been creating "exact copies" of Ziff Davis's works and using them to train its AI models without permission. Ziff Davis alleges that OpenAI ignored its robots.txt file instructions not to scrape data and removed copyright information from the content. The lawsuit seeks to halt OpenAI from utilizing Ziff Davis's works and demands the destruction of datasets and models containing such content. This legal action positions Ziff Davis among other notable media organizations, such as The New York Times and The Intercept, that have also taken legal steps against OpenAI.

The implications of this lawsuit are significant, as it highlights ongoing tensions between traditional media companies and AI firms regarding data usage and copyright infringement. While some media outlets, like Vox Media and The Associated Press, have entered licensing agreements with OpenAI, others continue to push back legally. OpenAI, defending its practices, suggests that its models are trained on publicly available data and adhere to fair use principles. This case could set important precedents for how AI companies interact with digital media content and the legal boundaries of AI training practices.

Lawsuit Open Ai Copyright Infringement Ai Models Robots.Txt Ziff Davis Media Companies

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RATING

7.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a well-rounded overview of the lawsuit between Ziff Davis and OpenAI, accurately presenting the key facts and claims involved. It effectively balances perspectives by including statements from both parties, though it could benefit from additional viewpoints or expert opinions to enhance its depth and balance. The story is timely and relevant, addressing ongoing debates about AI and copyright law, and is written in a clear and accessible manner. While it has the potential to influence public opinion and provoke discussion, its impact may be limited without further exploration of the broader implications of the lawsuit. Overall, the article is a reliable and engaging piece that effectively informs readers about a significant legal issue in the technology and media sectors.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports on the key facts of Ziff Davis suing OpenAI for copyright infringement. It correctly identifies Ziff Davis as the owner of multiple digital outlets like CNET, PCMag, and IGN, and details the lawsuit's claims of unauthorized copying and use of content. The story also accurately quotes OpenAI's defense regarding fair use and public data. However, specific details such as the exact number of brands owned by Ziff Davis, the number of employees, and specific claims about robots.txt instructions and licensing agreements with other media companies, while mentioned, are not directly verified in the provided sources. These details, although plausible, require further verification from primary sources or the lawsuit document.

Balance

The article presents a balanced view by including perspectives from both Ziff Davis and OpenAI. Ziff Davis's allegations are detailed, and OpenAI's response is included, providing a fair representation of both sides. However, the story could benefit from including more perspectives, such as expert opinions on copyright law or comments from other media companies involved in similar lawsuits. The lack of these additional viewpoints reduces the overall balance slightly, as it primarily focuses on the two main parties involved.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and written in clear, concise language, making it easy to understand. The logical flow of information—from introducing the lawsuit, detailing the claims, and providing OpenAI's response—enhances comprehension. The tone is neutral, and the information is presented in a straightforward manner, contributing to the article's overall clarity.

Source quality

The story cites The New York Times as the initial source of the report, which is a reputable and reliable news outlet. Additionally, it references statements from OpenAI's spokesperson, adding credibility to the information presented. However, the article could enhance source quality by directly referencing the lawsuit document or providing more diverse sources, such as legal experts or industry analysts, to support the claims and provide broader context.

Transparency

The article provides a clear overview of the lawsuit and the claims made by Ziff Davis against OpenAI. It transparently presents the allegations and OpenAI's response. However, it lacks detailed disclosure of the methodology used to gather information, such as how the claims were verified or any potential conflicts of interest. Greater transparency regarding the basis of the claims and the sources of information would improve the reader's understanding of the article's impartiality.