A German court has ruled that OpenAI’s ChatGPT violated national copyright laws by using licensed musical works without permission during its model training process. The decision, first reported by The Guardian, marks one of the first major legal setbacks for the American AI company in Europe.
The case was brought by GEMA, the German society responsible for managing music rights, which filed the lawsuit last November. The court ordered OpenAI to pay damages to GEMA, though the exact amount has not been made public. In a statement, OpenAI said it disagreed with the ruling and is “considering next steps.”
GEMA hailed the verdict as a “landmark” moment for artists and rights holders in Europe. “Today, we have set a precedent that protects and clarifies the rights of authors: even operators of AI tools such as ChatGPT must comply with copyright law,” said GEMA CEO Tobias Holzmüller. “We have successfully defended the livelihoods of music creators.”
The ruling adds to growing legal pressure on OpenAI, which faces multiple lawsuits from artists, writers, and media groups alleging that its AI models were trained using copyrighted material without consent. The outcome in Germany could influence similar cases across Europe, where regulators are tightening scrutiny on how AI firms source and use creative content.
While OpenAI has yet to reveal its response, the decision highlights the growing tension between rapid AI innovation and existing copyright frameworks, an issue that continues to challenge lawmakers and tech companies worldwide.
