GEMA, Germany's music rights society, has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI in the Munich Regional Court, marking the first such legal action by a collecting society against an AI provider worldwide.

The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI's ChatGPT was trained on protected song lyrics from GEMA's 95,000 members without proper authorization. GEMA claims that ChatGPT reproduces these lyrics when responding to user prompts, raising significant copyright concerns.

This legal action follows GEMA's recent introduction of its "AI Charter," which outlined 10 ethical and legal principles for generative AI usage, and a proposed royalties framework for AI platforms.

Key aspects of the lawsuit:

• Filed against OpenAI LLC (U.S.) and OpenAI Ireland Ltd.
• Aims to challenge AI providers' claims that training and content generation can occur without rights holders' authorization
• Seeks to initiate public discussion on copyright and AI implications
• Could significantly impact AI regulation in Europe, particularly as the AI Act takes effect

OpenAI's response emphasizes ongoing "productive conversations" with creators and trade organizations, stating: "We respect the rights of creators and content owners, and believe they should benefit from AI technology... We're optimistic we will continue to find ways to work together."

GEMA has indicated it may pursue legal action against other AI providers, positioning this case as a crucial test for establishing legal precedent in AI copyright matters.

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