Story perspectives

Encyclopaedia Britannica Sues OpenAI Over Copyright Violations

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

Encyclopaedia Britannica, a reference publisher, and Merriam-Webster, a dictionary publisher, filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against OpenAI alleging copyright infringement.
The complaint states OpenAI used nearly 100,000 Britannica articles to train its AI models without permission.
The complaint also alleges trademark violations due to inaccuracies in AI-generated responses misattributing information to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The case adds to a growing wave of copyright lawsuits against AI companies, with similar actions against Perplexity AI.

History

Historical Context

The Copyright Act of 1976, enacted on October 19, 1976, established a comprehensive framework for copyright protection in the U.S., extending rights to authors and publishers. This law, influenced by technological advancements and international treaties, is now central to ongoing legal disputes, such as the current lawsuit against OpenAI, which may redefine copyright boundaries in the digital age and impact AI development.

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Story summary

Encyclopaedia Britannica, a reference publisher, and Merriam-Webster, a dictionary publisher, filed a lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against OpenAI alleging copyright infringement.
The complaint states OpenAI used nearly 100,000 Britannica articles to train its AI models without permission.
The complaint also alleges trademark violations due to inaccuracies in AI-generated responses misattributing information to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The case adds to a growing wave of copyright lawsuits against AI companies, with similar actions against Perplexity AI.

1 / 2