Bollywood Music Labels T-Series, Saregama, Sony Music Seek To Join Copyright Battle Against OpenAI

India's leading Bollywood music labels, including T-Series, Saregama, and Sony Music, are seeking to join a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI in New Delhi. These companies allege that OpenAI has unlawfully used their sound recordings to train its AI models, according to legal documents reviewed by Reuters.

The music labels’ move follows a lawsuit filed last year by Indian news agency ANI, which accused OpenAI of using its content without permission to train artificial intelligence models. Since then, multiple book publishers and media groups have also initiated legal action against OpenAI, adding to the company's mounting legal challenges worldwide.

Legal Concerns Over AI Training

On Thursday, the Indian Music Industry (IMI) group, alongside T-Series and Saregama India, filed a petition in the Delhi High Court, raising concerns over the unauthorized use of their sound recordings. The companies argue that OpenAI’s operations in India necessitate compliance with Indian copyright laws. Labeling the lawsuit as crucial for the global music industry, the petitioners emphasize the potential ramifications of AI systems scraping copyrighted content from the internet, including lyrics, compositions, and recordings.

Bollywood’s music industry wields substantial influence, with T-Series producing approximately 2,000 songs annually and Saregama boasting an extensive catalog featuring iconic Indian artists such as Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi. IMI, representing global music giants like Sony Music and Warner Music, has also voiced concerns about AI's potential to violate copyright protections.

Delhi High Court’s Jurisdiction Over OpenAI

By the end of January, two amici curiae (neutral legal experts) appointed by the court confirmed that the Delhi High Court holds jurisdiction to hear the copyright case against OpenAI. Under the Indian Copyright Act, jurisdiction is determined by the plaintiff’s principal place of business, which, in ANI’s case, is New Delhi. However, the legal experts held differing views on whether OpenAI’s use of copyrighted content constitutes fair use.

The court is now set to determine whether OpenAI must delete ANI’s data from its training models and whether AI training on copyrighted material is permissible under Indian law. The ruling could set a significant precedent for AI copyright regulations in India and shape how global AI companies operate within the country.

A Global AI Copyright Showdown

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 21, with stakeholders from various industries—including authors, musicians, news outlets, and book publishers—closely monitoring the proceedings. The case joins a growing number of copyright disputes against OpenAI worldwide, as governments and courts deliberate the extent to which AI training constitutes copyright infringement.

Meanwhile, OpenAI faces similar legal challenges in the United States, where media organizations like The New York Times and Chicago Tribune have filed lawsuits over alleged unauthorized use of their content. European regulators are also evaluating whether AI-driven data extraction violates copyright laws, potentially influencing future AI policies across multiple jurisdictions.