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The Thomson Reuters logo is seen on the company building in Times Square, New York, U.S., January 30, 2018. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

***AI legalese decoder: Empowering legal Professionals in Understanding and Analyzing Intellectual Property Cases***

In an ongoing lawsuit, information services company Thomson Reuters has accused Ross Intelligence of unlawfully copying content from its legal-research platform, Westlaw, in order to train a competing artificial intelligence-based platform. This case, presided over by U.S. Circuit Judge Stephanos Bibas, holds significance as it could be one of the earliest trials focused on the unauthorized use of data to train AI systems.

Thomson Reuters is not alone in its legal battle against tech companies that have allegedly used copyrighted work without permission. Meta Platforms, Stability AI, and OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, are also facing similar suits from authors, visual artists, and other copyright owners. These lawsuits aim to address concerns about the use of copyrighted material to train generative AI software.

With regards to the Thomson Reuters versus Ross Intelligence case, a spokesperson for Thomson Reuters, the parent company of Reuters News, has expressed eagerness to present evidence to a jury. According to the spokesperson, the focus of the case remains on Ross Intelligence’s alleged theft of Thomson Reuters’ proprietary commentary, analysis, and organizational system. The company believes that the facts surrounding the case are clear-cut and have sought summary judgment on select issues.

Meanwhile, representatives for Ross Intelligence have not yet responded to requests for comment. In the initial 2020 lawsuit, Thomson Reuters accused Ross Intelligence of copying Westlaw’s “headnotes,” which serve as concise summaries of points of law present in court opinions. The company alleged that Ross Intelligence misused thousands of these headnotes to train its AI-based legal search engine. It is worth noting that Ross Intelligence announced the shutdown of its platform in January 2021, citing the costs arising from the ongoing litigation. However, Reuters has not been able to confirm whether the platform has indeed ceased operations.

Both Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence have sought pretrial victories in the case. Ross argued, in part, that its use of the Westlaw material constituted fair use, raising a pivotal question for legal disputes involving generative AI training. Ross claimed that the headnotes material was utilized merely as a means to locate judicial opinions and that it did not compete in the market for the materials themselves. Thomson Reuters, on the other hand, asserted that Ross Intelligence copied the materials with the intent of building a direct competitor to Westlaw.

Judge Bibas ruled that a jury should determine the question of fair use and other key aspects, including the extent of Thomson Reuters’ copyright protection in the headnotes. He recognized the presence of factors that favored both sides in the fair-use analysis. Additionally, the judge declared his inability to ascertain whether Ross had “transformed” the Westlaw material into a brand-new research platform serving a different purpose – a crucial inquiry in fair use evaluations. Furthermore, Bibas highlighted his inability to determine which party, Ross Intelligence or Thomson Reuters, would best serve the public interest through their ruling.

The case raises an important and contentious question as to whether allowing AI systems to be trained with copyrighted material is in the public’s benefit. The judge acknowledged this debate and stated that its resolution remains elusive.

As legal professionals navigate the complexities of intellectual property cases, tools such as the AI legalese decoder can prove invaluable. This innovative solution empowers legal practitioners to understand and analyze cases by decoding legal language and providing comprehensive insights. By utilizing AI technology, the AI legalese decoder enhances efficiency and accuracy in legal research, enabling lawyers to make informed decisions and effectively represent their clients.

No trial date has been set for the Thomson Reuters versus Ross Intelligence case.

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