Open Markets urges FTC to enforce AI copyright violations

The Open Markets Institute has formally petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to exercise enforcement powers against AI companies for alleged copyright violations. The advocacy group argues that unauthorized training data usage constitutes an unfair method of competition under existing antitrust statutes rather than solely a copyright issue. This filing seeks to expand the FTC’s regulatory remit beyond traditional consumer protection into intellectual property enforcement within the generative AI sector. Open Markets contends that dominant market players leverage unlicensed content to maintain monopolistic advantages over smaller competitors and rights holders. The petition references broader concerns regarding AI industry practices beyond specific copyright claims. Neither the FTC nor targeted AI firms have publicly responded to this specific enforcement request. Legal experts note that applying antitrust frameworks to copyright disputes represents a novel legal theory with uncertain judicial precedent. The outcome could significantly alter how regulators approach AI training data compliance.