USA Today becomes the latest publisher to sue OpenAI
USA Today Co. and several local newspapers are suing OpenAI for over $250 million, alleging the company copied "hundreds of thousands" of their articles to train its AI models without permission. The lawsuit claims OpenAI's unauthorized use of content has caused "real and continuing" harm to their outlets, stating that OpenAI's commercial success is based on "large-scale copyright infringement." OpenAI has not yet responded to the allegations.
This report details the specific financial damages sought by USA Today, unlike earlier reports that focused on the general legal dispute.
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PublishedOffset at this time: UTC+0Oct 8, 2026, 17:58 UTC
IngestedOffset at this time: UTC+0Oct 8, 2026, 18:00 UTC
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- Oct 8, 2026, 17:58
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- Oct 8, 2026, 18:00
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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.
“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.
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