Indian Music Giants Join Lawsuit Against OpenAI Over Copyright Concerns

Leading Bollywood music labels, including T-Series, Saregama, and Sony Music, have moved to join a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI in a New Delhi court, raising concerns about the unauthorized use of their sound recordings in AI training. The Indian Music Industry (IMI) group, along with T-Series and Saregama, filed a petition on Thursday, arguing that OpenAI’s alleged extraction of lyrics, compositions, and recordings from the internet without permission threatens the music industry’s intellectual property rights.

The case is part of a growing global legal battle against OpenAI, which claims it adheres to fair-use principles in utilizing publicly available data. The music labels’ intervention follows a lawsuit filed last year by news agency ANI, which accused OpenAI of using its content without authorization. Since then, major Indian media groups, including those linked to billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, have also taken legal action against the AI giant. OpenAI has contested the ANI lawsuit, arguing that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the U.S.-based company.

The lawsuit’s next hearing is set for February 21, with industry experts viewing the case as crucial for shaping AI copyright regulations in India. The legal challenge comes amid rising global scrutiny, including a lawsuit filed by Germany’s GEMA over OpenAI’s alleged unlicensed reproduction of song lyrics. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently visited India and met with the country’s infotech minister to discuss India’s efforts to develop low-cost AI solutions.

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