欧洲首例生成式AI版权侵权胜诉案迎来一审判决

Core Viewpoint - The Munich District Court ruled that OpenAI infringed copyright by using protected song lyrics without permission to train its ChatGPT model, marking a significant legal precedent for AI copyright issues in Europe [1][14]. Case Background - The lawsuit initiated by GEMA, representing around 100,000 songwriters and music publishers, accused OpenAI of systematically incorporating lyrics from nine popular German songs into ChatGPT's training dataset without authorization [2][3]. - The songs involved include works by notable German artists, and GEMA's technical verification showed that ChatGPT could reproduce the lyrics upon user prompts [2][3]. GEMA's Legal Claims - GEMA sought several remedies, including a ban on OpenAI's unauthorized use of the lyrics, disclosure of infringement details and revenue, compensation for damages, and coverage of legal fees [4][5]. - OpenAI argued that its model does not store or replicate specific training data, claiming that the responsibility for output lies with users, and that its actions fell under the TDM exception in German copyright law [5][4]. Court's Ruling - The court found that OpenAI's actions constituted both reproduction and public provision of the lyrics, as the model's memory allowed for the lyrics to be reproduced through simple prompts [7][8]. - The court rejected OpenAI's defense based on the TDM exception, stating that the long-term memory and reproduction of lyrics exceeded the scope of temporary copies allowed under the law [9]. Implications of the Ruling - This ruling is seen as a landmark decision for AI copyright regulation in Europe, clarifying that AI operators must comply with copyright laws [14][15]. - GEMA's statement emphasized that the ruling protects creators' rights and sets a precedent for fair compensation for intellectual property use [14]. Future Considerations - OpenAI expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling and is considering its next steps, including a potential appeal [14]. - The case is part of a broader trend, with GEMA also pursuing legal action against another AI music company, indicating an ongoing struggle between copyright holders and AI companies [15].