GoKawiilTrump Justice Department backs OpenAI in NYT copyright case
The Trump administration filed a statement of interest in The New York Times' copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, siding with OpenAI's claim that training AI models on copyrighted text qualifies as fair use. Government attorneys warned that narrowing fair-use doctrine could hinder scientific and economic progress tied to large language models.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
This intervention shows the administration actively shaping AI policy through the courts rather than legislation, using statements of interest as a tool to influence how fair use is interpreted for AI training data. The outcome could set a legal precedent affecting numerous other publishers pursuing similar claims against AI companies, while also intersecting with Trump's own defamation dispute with the Times.
- Trump officials filed a formal statement backing OpenAI's fair-use defense in the NYT lawsuit.
- The case could establish precedent for how AI companies use copyrighted media content.
- The administration has repeatedly used statements of interest to advance its AI policy goals.
The Coming Wave" by Mustafa Suleyman (hardcover) — If headlines about AI training data, fair use, and who controls these models leave you wanting the bigger picture, this book from a DeepMind and Microsoft AI co-founder digs into how fast the technology is moving and the containment problems regulators are scrambling to address. It's a solid companion for anyone following the OpenAI–New York Times fight and where AI policy goes next.
See The Coming Wave" by Mustafa Suleyman (hardcover) on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Hayden Field, 2026-09-02
Published there as: “The Trump administration is supporting OpenAI in the NYT copyright lawsuit”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.