U.S. Department of Justice Supports Fair Use Application to AI Training

The U.S. Department of Justice stated a position asserting that using copyright-protected text for AI model training constitutes "fair use." This stance was submitted as a document in a class action lawsuit involving The New York Times. Fair use refers to a concept in U.S. copyright law that permits the use of copyrighted works under certain conditions without obtaining permission from the copyright holder.

This lawsuit challenges AI development companies for using large volumes of text data without authorization in model training, alleging copyright infringement. Such lawsuits have surged in recent years, and with the proliferation of generative AI, the legal question of where to draw the balance between copyright protection and AI development freedom has become increasingly pressing. The fact that the Department of Justice expressed its position on this issue without being a party to the litigation is noteworthy as an indication of the government's stance.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Copyright Office had published a report taking a different direction. The Copyright Office's position reportedly contradicted the Justice Department's claims directly. Furthermore, shortly after the report's release, the Trump administration dismissed the Copyright Office's director. The specific reason for the dismissal has not been made public, but observers have noted the temporal proximity to the report's publication.

The Justice Department's current statement can be viewed as a move that could influence the entire industry, as it brings a clear government position to the legal debate surrounding AI training data. The development of AI models requires the learning of vast amounts of text data, much of which consists of copyrighted works. Whether fair use is recognized is one of the key legal factors that will determine the future direction of AI development.

However, the Justice Department's argument is merely a statement of position on the litigation, and how the courts will evaluate it is a separate matter. Additionally, the combination of differing views between the Justice Department and the Copyright Office, along with the dismissal of the Copyright Office director, has raised questions about consistency in government policy. The courts' eventual ruling will establish precedent for how AI training data is handled in the industry.

The outcome of this trial could extend beyond the United States and influence AI policies and litigation in other countries facing similar legal challenges. In the current situation where the legal framework governing AI and copyright remains unsettled, the Justice Department's position supporting fair use serves as a catalyst for AI development companies. Meanwhile, discussions with copyright holders seeking protection are expected to continue, and resolving this issue will likely take considerable time.