USA Today sues OpenAI, seeking more than $250 million in damages
USA Today Co., along with several local newspapers it owns, is suing OpenAI, alleging it copied "hundreds of thousands" of articles to train its AI models. The publisher is asking for damages of more than $250 million, claiming OpenAI never sought permission and that its "commercial success rests on large-scale copyright infringement." OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why it matters: It adds another major publisher lawsuit to the growing set of copyright cases OpenAI faces over its training data.
References The Verge AI · cnBeta
USA Today becomes the latest publisher to sue OpenAI
The publisher is seeking damages of more than $250 million.
The publisher is seeking damages of more than $250 million.
by Emma Roth
Oct 8, 2026, 5:58 PM UTC
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge
Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.
USA Today Co., along with the several local newspapers it owns, is suing OpenAI over claims that the company copied “hundreds of thousands” of articles to train its AI models, as reported earlier by Reuters. In a filing on Thursday, the publisher asks for damages of more than $250 million, alleging OpenAI’s unauthorized use of its content “has done real and continuing” harm to its outlets.
This is just the latest in a string of copyright lawsuits filed against OpenAI. In addition to a copyright lawsuit filed by The New York Times, OpenAI is also facing legal action from The Intercept, CNET owner Ziff Davis, CBC/Radio-Canada, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster, The Seattle Times, and a coalition of nearly 400 local newspapers.
Related
- Seattle Times and Newsday sue OpenAI and Microsoft for infringement
- The Trump administration is supporting OpenAI in the NYT copyright lawsuit
“OpenAI’s commercial success rests on large-scale copyright infringement,” USA Today Co.’s lawsuit claims. It alleges that OpenAI never asked for permission to use its content, instead “took” USA Today’s content to “build products worth hundreds of billions of dollars.” The Tennessean, Indy Star, The Columbus Dispatch, The Oklahoman, and several other local outlets are also included in the lawsuit.
OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
- Emma Roth
Most Popular
Most Popular
Google invests millions in Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to create a ‘virtual cell’
GTA VI leaks continue with a lengthy (and very nude) gameplay video
How Microsoft built its MacBook Pro competitor
Teenage Engineering’s CEO says it’ll stop making synths
Surface RTX Spark Dev Box is available for preorder for $5,999
Advertiser Content From
This is the title for the native ad
How we got here
- OpenAI rolls out Ultrafast for GPT-6.1 Sol in API, Codex and ChatGPT WorkOpenAI (X) · OpenAI
- Ben Affleck's AI know-how goes viral, from tensors to fine-tuning open modelsTechCrunch AI · OpenAI
- Mathematicians call for OpenAI boycott after AI proof release floods fieldThe Decoder · OpenAI
- OpenAI's math proof release falls short of new field standardsTechCrunch AI · OpenAI
- Trump to unveil $2.4B in AI credits from five tech firms for federal scienceThe Next Web · OpenAI
- SAP's Sean Kask: software firms must become AI companies or perishThe Next Web · OpenAI