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OpenAI Defends Against ANI’s Data Deletion Lawsuit in Indian Court

Legal Clash with Indian Court Over ChatGPT Training Data Deletion – OpenAI Argues Against

On January 23, 2025, OpenAI argued in an Indian court against removing training data for ChatGPT, stating it would clash with US legal obligations. The argument follows a lawsuit by Indian news agency ANI, alleging the AI company used ANI content without permission. OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, asserts that Indian courts have no jurisdiction over the matter as OpenAI neither has offices nor operates in India.

A High Stakes Legal Battle

The ANI lawsuit filed in November is one of India’s most observed legal battles over AI. ANI alleges that OpenAI wrongfully used its published content to train ChatGPT and it is requesting for the deletion of its data. The AI giant has been defending similar lawsuits in the US, where legal obligations dictate preservation of its training data during ongoing lawsuits.

Disputes Over Jurisdiction and Copyrights

OpenAI also posits that the relief envisioned by ANI falls outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts, as it has “no office or establishment in India and servers storing ChatGPT’s training data are located elsewhere. ANI, partly owned by Reuters, disagreed, positioning that the Delhi court is rightfully qualified to hear the case.

Facing Allegations of Unfair Competition

ANI has also raised concerns about unfair competition, referencing OpenAI’s partnerships with major media houses such as Time Magazine and The Financial Times. They argue that these agreements give OpenAI an unfair advantage. Furthermore, ANI claims that ChatGPT reproduces verbatim or similar parts of its works. In response, OpenAI denied these allegations, stating that ANI deliberately used its own articles to maneuver ChatGPT into facing the lawsuit.

The Delhi High Court is slated to hear the case on January 28. Currently, OpenAI is transitioning from non-profit to for-profit, having secured $6.6 billion in funding last year. Simultaneously, it is also securing high-profile media partnership deals globally, thereby managing to balance commercial growth and global regulatory concerns.