--- title: "OpenAI Mocked for Issuing Infringement Claim Over Its Logo While Scraping the Entire Web to Train AI Models" description: "ChatGPT creator OpenAI is getting roasted for allegedly hitting moderators of the r/ChatGPT subreddit with a copyright infringement claim." date: "2024-05-10" modified: "2024-05-10" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/openai-logo-infringement-claim" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" - "OpenAI" tags: - "ai" - "ai training" - "OpenAI" - "the digest" --- # OpenAI Mocked for Issuing Infringement Claim Over Its Logo While Scraping the Entire Web to Train AI Models ![ChatGPT creator OpenAI is getting roasted for allegedly hitting moderators of the r/ChatGPT subreddit with a copyright infringement claim.]() *\Image: Futurism\* ## IP Man As [*404 Media* reports](), ChatGPT creator OpenAI is getting absolutely roasted for allegedly hitting moderators of the r/ChatGPT subreddit with an infringement claim over their use of OpenAI's logo. Per *404*, r/ChatGPT mods first [took to the subreddit yesterday]() to share a screenshot of a message they'd received from Reddit leadership explaining that the company had "received a copyright complaint from openai.com alleging unauthorized use of their copyrighted logos in r/ChatGPT." This, the message added, might "lead to user confusion," and provided the moderators until May 16 to remove the logo. (The mods posted the screenshot with zero context, just a "[thumbs up]()" emoji, the connotation of which may or may not be little passive-aggressive.) But if this request is real — neither OpenAI nor Reddit reportedly responded to *404's* requests for comment — a side-eyed response does feel warranted. As *404* notes, a company's logo technically falls under trademark law, which is different than copyright. But the alleged request still feels deeply ironic considering that OpenAI itself is currently embroiled in [multiple]() [copyright infringement lawsuits]() due to *scraping the entire web* and using that data — which [includes copyrighted material]() — to [train its AI models](). What's that they say about [tasting]() your [own medicine]()? ## Change of Heart This irony wasn't lost on the subreddit's users, who flocked to deride OpenAI's seeming hypocrisy. "It does not seem wise for OpenAI to start enforcing copyright claims," said one Redditor. "Absolutely get fucked," another netizen colorfully chimed in. Another user offered a to-the-point: "Shat GPT." But it seems that OpenAI quickly got the hint: last night, [r/ChatGPT's moderators declared victory](), announcing in an update that OpenAI had agreed to let them use the logo on the condition that the mods update the page's disclaimers. Still, members of the subreddit don't appear to have forgiven OpenAI just yet. After all, the company's AI products have been caught churning out entire chunks of copyrighted content, and a [recent *New York Times* report]() — the *NYT* being one of groups suing OpenAI over copyright infringement — revealed the extent of OpenAI's ethically murky data-scraping practices. All to say, picking a battle like this, especially as litigation mounts, is a terrible look. "It was genuinely one of the dumbest hills to stand on as a company that constantly uses data to train AND be used and displayed by its product," wrote one user wrote in response to OpenAI's apparent change of heart. "If anyone were to attack and win a copyright case against OpenAI the entire thing crumbles," added another. "For them to do that is like walking on hot coals but then sitting down and pouring them on your face." **More on OpenAI:** [*OpenAI Exploring How to Make AI-Generated Porn*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()