The ongoing multidistrict litigation in the Southern District of New York, involving OpenAI and Microsoft, has attracted a diverse array of amicus briefs from various stakeholders, reflecting the case’s significance in the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright law.
The News/Media Alliance, representing numerous news publishers, filed an amicus brief emphasizing the existential threat posed by unlicensed use of journalistic content for AI training. The Alliance argues that such practices undermine the financial viability of news organizations and calls for upholding copyright protections to ensure fair compensation for content creators. ([newsmediaalliance.org](https://www.newsmediaalliance.org/nma-files-amicus-brief-in-openai-mdl/?utm_source=openai))
Similarly, the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM), along with the Association of American Publishers (AAP), the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), and the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), submitted a joint brief supporting the plaintiffs. They contend that established copyright principles should apply to the use of copyrighted materials in training generative AI models and highlight the growing market for licensing content for AI purposes. ([stm-assoc.org](https://stm-assoc.org/stm-joins-publishers-in-openai-copyright-amicus-brief/?utm_source=openai))
On the other hand, the Authors Alliance filed a brief focusing on the concept of “market dilution,” arguing that the use of copyrighted works to train AI models does not constitute a recognized harm under copyright law. They caution that treating it as such could inadvertently harm the authors the theory aims to protect. ([authorsalliance.org](https://www.authorsalliance.org/2026/10/30/authors-alliance-files-amicus-brief-in-in-re-openai-copyright-infringement-litigation/?utm_source=openai))
The Wikimedia Foundation also weighed in, urging the court to consider the implications for the open knowledge ecosystem. Their brief emphasizes the importance of maintaining access to information and the potential consequences of restrictive copyright interpretations on platforms like Wikipedia. ([wikimediafoundation.org](https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2026/10/30/wikimedia-foundation-amicus-brief-new-york-times-v-open-ai-case/?utm_source=openai))
Additionally, a coalition of entertainment industry unions, including SAG-AFTRA, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), and the Writers Guilds of America West and East (WGAW and WGAE), filed a brief defending the rights and livelihoods of creative professionals. They argue against a broad fair use exemption for AI training, emphasizing the need for consent, credit, and compensation for creators. ([wga.org](https://www.wga.org/news-events/news/press/2026/sag-aftra-afm-wgaw-and-wgae-file-amicus-brief-in-openai-copyright-infringement-litigation?utm_source=openai))
These filings underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the legal questions surrounding AI and copyright. As the court considers these perspectives, the outcome of this litigation is poised to have far-reaching implications for content creators, technology developers, and the broader media landscape.