GoKawiilUnsealed filings show OpenAI staff debated using pirated books to train ChatGPT
Court documents made public in an ongoing copyright lawsuit reveal internal OpenAI communications in which employees discussed the expense and legality of acquiring books to train early ChatGPT models, with some staff flagging the sourcing as questionable. The messages suggest teams weighed pirated material as a cheaper alternative to licensing content properly.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The disclosures add to mounting evidence in litigation against AI companies over whether copyrighted works were used without permission to build commercial products. If courts find such internal discussions show knowing use of pirated material, it could strengthen authors' and publishers' claims and shape damages or licensing requirements across the AI industry.
- Internal OpenAI messages reportedly show staff discussing sourcing books, including pirated copies, for training data
- The documents emerged from unsealed filings in a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI
- The revelations could bolster plaintiffs' arguments in ongoing AI copyright litigation
Source: wsj.com, 2026-09-19
Published there as: “‘Sketchy AF’: What to Know About How OpenAI Staff Discussed Book-Pirating”
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