OpenAI signs licensing deals with India's two largest newspaper groups

What happened

OpenAI signed partnership deals with India's two largest newspaper groups: Bennett, Coleman & Co. (Times of India publisher, reported at around $5m per year) and the Indian Express Group (reported at around $3m per year), per E4m reporting carried by Press Gazette on ~23 September 2026. Notably, the Indian Express Group had joined a copyright lawsuit against OpenAI in January 2025, converting from litigant to licensee; the Times of India had not litigated.

Why it matters to creators

Continues the pattern of publishers converting copyright claims into paid licensing — fighting and licensing simultaneously. Direct compensation flow to publishers for AI use of their content, with reported $3–5m/year values signalling the market rate for large non-US publishers.

What is not yet known

Full deal terms beyond reported annual values (scope: training vs. grounding/display; duration); whether other Indian publishers follow.