The Apig, representing nearly 300 French newspapers, has decided to take legal action against the American company Brave, which specializes in the development of browsers and search engines. This initiative aims to protect the informational content of its members, who believe that their work is used without authorization by Brave, which exploits artificial intelligence technologies. The main issue at stake is the demand for financial compensation, estimated at around 80 million euros.
An unprecedented legal action in Europe
In an official statement, the Apig emphasized the importance of this action, calling it the first in Europe targeting the entire value chain of generative artificial intelligence. The first hearing of this trial is scheduled for September 10th at the Paris judicial court. This initiative is supported by 53 members of the Apig, such as La Croix, L’Équipe, Libération, Les Échos, and Ouest France, who unite to defend their rights against the unauthorized use of their content.
The foundations of the complaint
The company Brave, based in California, has developed a browser and a search engine that operate on a model similar to that of Google. However, Brave has achieved less success with the general public. For the Apig, Brave integrates into its search engine features of AI that synthesize press publications, while providing access to over forty billion pages of information without any form of consent. This exploitation of content is seen as a violation of copyright, prompting the Apig to file a lawsuit for infringement.
The damages caused by Brave
The Apig also indicates that this content is used to feed real-time language models of third parties, thus increasing the negative impact on the revenues of traditional media. In addition to financial issues, newspapers accuse Brave of the unauthorized exploitation of their brand, including their titles and logos. This legal procedure is based not only on copyright law but also on neighboring rights and trademark law, which ensure greater protection for media works.
The legal framework and neighboring rights
The legislation surrounding neighboring rights was strengthened in 2019 through a European directive that allows newspapers and press agencies to seek remuneration when their content is used by internet players. This legal framework was designed to address the challenges posed by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and its integration into various sectors. Indeed, the use of press content raises tensions between AI companies, often reluctant to pay for the use of this data, and the media, which see it as a crucial economic issue.
Implications for the media sector and AI
This case highlights the necessity for dialogue between the media sector and actors in artificial intelligence. As the development of AI technologies continues to grow, the issue of compensation for the use of content becomes increasingly pressing. Media companies, facing heightened competition and declining revenues, view this legal action as a chance to better protect their interests and ensure fair remuneration for their work.
To learn more about the changes that artificial intelligence brings to various sectors, you might be interested in articles discussing the impacts on telecommuting and professional practices, as well as those addressing other challenges and promises regarding AI, such as this link or this link.
