The Alliance de la Presse d’Information Générale and the Syndicat des Éditeurs de Presse Magazine (SEPM) are joining forces to counter the illegal exploitation of their content by the databases powering artificial intelligence.
Their targets: Common Crawl, C4, and Oscar—datasets used extensively to train AI models like ChatGPT or Gemini, but accused of reproducing millions of copyrighted articles without authorization.
With over 800 publications involved, representing 57% of French journalists, this offensive could mark a turning point in the fight for publishers’ rights. The Yiaho team takes a look at this initiative.
Generative AI: A massive misappropriation of content?
These databases, often presented as public resources, collect and distribute news articles without the consent of the rights holders. This system allows AI developers to rely on journalistic content without negotiating with publishers or respecting legal intellectual property obligations.
The result? Digital looting that deprives newsrooms of legitimate compensation for their work.
A three-step strategy
To put an end to these practices, the Alliance and the SEPM are deploying a structured response:
- Systematic tracking: Methodically identifying the presence of news content in these databases.
- Demanding removal: Sending coordinated formal notices to achieve the effective removal of protected articles.
- Preparing legal action: Establishing a legal framework for potential lawsuits against those illegally exploiting this content.
This initiative brings together 300 Alliance titles and 500 from the SEPM, representing a significant force in the French media landscape, with publications distributing 4.6 million copies daily and over 220 online titles.
Also read: Is AI plagiarism? Here is what the law says
A vital issue for journalism?
The stakes go beyond simple copyright issues; it’s about the survival of professional journalism.
Producing high-quality news requires significant investment, which is threatened by the unpaid use of content by AI. This capture of value weakens a sector already under pressure, jeopardizing the ability of newsrooms to provide reliable information—an essential pillar of democracy.
Publishers are not opposed to the rise of artificial intelligence but are calling for a fair framework. Their action is part of a broader strategy, combining successful partnerships, such as with Google, lawsuits against platforms like Microsoft or LinkedIn, and negotiations to strengthen neighboring rights.
The goal: to ensure that AI technologies respect creators’ rights and fairly share the value generated.
A message to the tech industry
By targeting the databases that feed AI models, publishers are sending a clear message: the unauthorized use of journalistic content, even from supposedly public datasets, will no longer be accepted.
This mobilization could transform relations between the press and AI players, establishing a model where the work of newsrooms is recognized and fairly compensated.
As the press sector unites, one question remains: will tech giants choose dialogue or confrontation?
Beyond major newspaper publishers, small online publishers are also feeling the pressure. Indeed, those who depend on their online newsrooms risk losing significant financial resources with the widespread adoption of AI, both in terms of online search and the scraping of their writing without financial compensation.
AI is about to turn the world upside down, and this is only the beginning!
Source: AlliancePresse
