The US government has filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit between The New York Times and OpenAI, arguing that AI companies need to use copyrighted data without permission to stay competitive with foreign adversaries. The filing, signed by Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward Jr., claims that strict copyright enforcement would threaten national security and give an advantage to countries like China. It echoes OpenAI's own arguments that fair use should protect AI training, but critics point out that major tech companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google already dominate the market and have the resources to pay for licenses.

The brief also comes shortly after OpenAI announced a partnership with the US military, raising concerns about the government's close ties to AI developers. Ultimately, the court will decide, but the government's stance highlights the tension between innovation and intellectual property rights in the AI era.