Author Fernando Morais sues OpenAI over ChatGPT copyright claims

Writer Fernando Morais has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in São Paulo, alleging the unauthorized use of his books to train and provide responses for ChatGPT. The legal action seeks to prevent the company from using his works without permission, under penalty of a daily fine, and requests compensation for both material and moral damages.

The lawsuit cites specific examples from Morais’s works, including ‘Chatô: o Rei do Brasil’, ‘Corações Sujos’, and ‘Olga’. Morais’s legal team argues that ChatGPT can reproduce detailed structures, arguments, and specific historical descriptions derived directly from these protected texts.

The initial value of the claim is set at R$ 100,000, though lawyers stated this is an estimate to be revised following a formal expert assessment of the actual damages. The defense maintains that the use of these works violates copyright laws by utilizing protected content as training input without prior authorization.