26 more publishers join copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, passing 550 outlets

What happened: On September 16, 2026, Platkin LLP announced that 26 additional local, regional, and specialty publishers joined its copyright lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft. The firm now represents 60 publishers covering more than 550 publications and outlets. The complaint alleges OpenAI and Microsoft systematically and willfully used copyrighted news articles without permission or compensation to train and build commercial AI products, and reproduced or repurposed that reporting. It also claims OpenAI knowingly removed copyright management information (author credits, copyright notices, terms-of-use information) in violation of the DMCA. Plaintiffs expect the case to be consolidated with the In re OpenAI Copyright Infringement multi-district litigation.

Why it matters to creators: This is the largest collective effort by local and regional publications against AI companies over use of original journalism. If the publishers prevail, it could establish that AI firms must license or compensate news content used in training.

What is not yet known: Whether the MDL panel will consolidate the case; no court has ruled on the merits, and no damages figure has been set.