Category: Judge Stein

Judge Stein denies News Plaintiffs leave to add new contributory infringement claim v. Microsoft. News Plaintiffs, Ziff Davis already abandoned contributory infringement claim foreclosed by Cox Communications.

In the In re OpenAI Copyright Infringement Litigation, Judge Stein issued two separate but similar rulings. They stem from the plaintiffs’ voluntary dismissal of their material-contribution theory of contributory infringement after the Supreme Court’s decision in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment, as well as their trademark dilution claim. Ruling on News Plaintiffs’ Motion for…
Read more: Judge Stein denies News Plaintiffs leave to add new contributory infringement claim v. Microsoft. News Plaintiffs, Ziff Davis already abandoned contributory infringement claim foreclosed by Cox Communications.
Daily News plaintiffs follow New York Times’ strategy in seeking to drop contributory infringement claims v. OpenAI and trademark dilution claims as well

The legal claims are dropping like hot potatoes in In re OpenAI Copyright Infringement Litigation. The Daily News and other news plaintiffs are following the New York Times’ strategy in asking Judge Stein to allow them to abandon, with prejudice, their claims for contributory infringement against OpenAI, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in…
Read more: Daily News plaintiffs follow New York Times’ strategy in seeking to drop contributory infringement claims v. OpenAI and trademark dilution claims as well
New York Times abandons contributory infringement claim v. OpenAI in light of Supreme Court’s Cox decision

After OpenAI filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings that the New York Times could not meet the intent standard for contributory infringement set forth by the Supreme Court in Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment, we wrote: “OpenAI’s brief seems quite strong in its explanation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Cox.“ The New…
Read more: New York Times abandons contributory infringement claim v. OpenAI in light of Supreme Court’s Cox decision
New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien exudes confidence in copyright suit v. OpenAI

New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Leviet exuded confidence in the New York Times’ copyright suit against OpenAI. Should OpenAI be nervous? Take a listen:
Read more: New York Times CEO Meredith Kopit Levien exudes confidence in copyright suit v. OpenAI
New York Times’ contributory infringement claims fails under Supreme Court’s standard set forth in Cox Communications, says OpenAI

The Supreme Court’s recent clarification in Cox Communication v. Sony Music Entertainment that claims for contributory infringement under copyright law requires proof of intentional conduct by a provider of a service has now entered the picture in one of the most important set of cases, In re OpenAI Copyright Infringement Litigation. As we predicted, Cox…
Read more: New York Times’ contributory infringement claims fails under Supreme Court’s standard set forth in Cox Communications, says OpenAI
John Carreyrou’s copyright suit v. OpenAI now officially joined with MDL cases v. OpenAI

Judge Stein now has the the lawsuit Carreyrou et al v. OpenAI, Inc. et al, at the new Docket No. 1:26-cv-03625. This case was once a part of the omnibus copyright lawsuit filed by Carreyrou against 8 different AI companies. The relevant parties stipulated to a severance and a transfer, which Judge Thompson had granted…
Read more: John Carreyrou’s copyright suit v. OpenAI now officially joined with MDL cases v. OpenAI
Judge Stein grants stay, putting on shelf copyright suits filed by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam’s Dictionary, Gracenote v. OpenAI.

On April 21, 2026, Judge Stein granted by joint stipulation of the parties in Encyclopaedia Britannica v. OpenAI and Gracenote v. OpenAI. The cases will be put on the shelf, for now. These cases were filed very late and the rest of the MDL Litigation v. OpenAI is nearing the end of discovery. “JOINT STIPULATION…
Read more: Judge Stein grants stay, putting on shelf copyright suits filed by Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam’s Dictionary, Gracenote v. OpenAI.
Judge Stein ask Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam Webster Dictionary, and Gracenote to show cause their lawsuits v. OpenAI should not be stayed

The plaintiffs in the two recently filed lawsuits against OpenAI got asked by Judge Stein to show cause by April 15 why their recently filed lawsuits should not be stayed pending the outcome of summary judgment motions in the MDL litigation against OpenAI, now ongoing for a couple years. Since these 2 lawsuits are just…
Read more: Judge Stein ask Encyclopaedia Britannica, Merriam Webster Dictionary, and Gracenote to show cause their lawsuits v. OpenAI should not be stayed
Parties ask for 3 week extension in OpenAI MDL Litigation. Summary Judgment briefing completed by Nov. 6, 2026

The parties in the MLD Litigation involving OpenAI have asked Judge Stein to extend the current schedule by 3 weeks. That would move the completion of briefing on summary judgment from October 16 to November 6. One would expect a hearing on the motions. So it would make it less likely for any decision on…
Read more: Parties ask for 3 week extension in OpenAI MDL Litigation. Summary Judgment briefing completed by Nov. 6, 2026
Judge Stein reverses Magistrate Judge’s ruling on OpenAI’s attorney-client privilege to deletion of Books 1, 2 datasets. Judge Stein: no waiver by OpenAI. Lisa Blatt secures huge win for OpenAI.

Judge Stein issued the long-awaited decision on OpenAI’s appeal of Magistrate Judge Wang’s ruling that OpenAI waived its attorney-client privilege as to the deletion of Books 1, 2 datasets. It’s a complete reversal and a major win for OpenAI, who hired Supreme Court litigator Lisa Blatt to brief the appeal. Trial attorney Robert Van Nast…
Read more: Judge Stein reverses Magistrate Judge’s ruling on OpenAI’s attorney-client privilege to deletion of Books 1, 2 datasets. Judge Stein: no waiver by OpenAI. Lisa Blatt secures huge win for OpenAI.