wikiHow, Inc. v. OpenAI, Inc.
Summary
wikiHow sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, alleging the AI company used its how-to articles and instructional content to train ChatGPT without permission. The lawsuit centers on OpenAI's use of wikiHow's copyrighted text and creative works to build its large language model, raising questions about AI training data rights and creator compensation.
Summary generated by AI from public docket data. Verify against the original filing before relying on it.
Coverage vs reality meter
Coverage events: 1P · 0D · 1N (3 articles)
Latest ruling: neutral (2026-08-31)
Press coverage and the latest court ruling tell the same story.
Coverage breakdown — the articles behind the meter
2 plaintiff-favorable · 0 defendant-favorable · 1 neutral articles
The meter counts distinct coverage events, not articles: 1 plaintiff · 0 defendant · 1 neutral events — a burst of same-stance coverage counts once, however many outlets ran it.
- WikiHow Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI Over ChatGPT’s Use of Its How-To LibraryIPWatchdog.com · 2026-08-25
- WikiHow sues OpenAI for scraping over 11,000 articles without permissionCrypto Briefing · 2026-08-24
None classified yet.
Coverage sentiment vs. docket activity over time
Counsel of record
- Susman Godfrey L.L.P.Dustin Fire
- Court
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- Docket no.
- 1:26-cv-07171
- Nature of suit
- Copyright
- Judge
- Sidney H. Stein
- Filed
- 2026-08-21
- Last filing
- 2026-09-03
Cause
17:101 Copyright Infringement
Entities in this case
Parties
OpenAI Group PBC OpenAI Holdings, LLC OAI Corporation, LLC OpenAI Global, LLC OpenAI OpCo, LLC OpenAI, LLC OpenAI GP, LLC OpenAI, L.P. OpenAI, Inc. wikiHow, Inc.
Docket entries
- #112026-09-01
Letter
- #102026-08-31
ORDER: Plaintiff is ordered to show cause in writing on or before September 11, 2026, why this action should not be stayed pending resolution of summary judgment motions in the other active cases in this multidistrict litigation. Defendants' response, if any, shall be filed by September 18, 2026. SO ORDERED. Show Cause Response due by 9/11/2026. (Signed by Judge Sidney H. Stein on 8/28/2026) Filed In Associated Cases: 1:25-md-03143-SHS-OTW, 1:26-cv-07171-SHS (jca) (Entered: 08/31/2026)
- 2026-08-28
CONSOLIDATED MDL CASE: Create association to 1:25-md-03143-SHS-OTW. (vba)
- 2026-08-28
Notice of Case Assignment/Reassignment
- 2026-08-28
Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang is designated to handle matters that may be referred in this case. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c), Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1), and Local Civil Rule 73.1, parties are notified that they may, with the approval of the assigned District Judge, consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/AO-3.pdf. (vba)
- 2026-08-28
NOTICE OF CASE REASSIGNMENT to Judge Sidney H. Stein. Judge Unassigned is no longer assigned to the case. (vba)
- 2026-08-28
CASE ACCEPTED AS RELATED. Create association to 1:25-md-03143-SHS-OTW. Notice of Assignment to follow. (vba)
- #92026-08-25
ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to OAI Corporation, LLC, OpenAI GP, LLC, OpenAI Global, LLC, OpenAI Group PBC, OpenAI Holdings, LLC, OpenAI OpCo, LLC, OpenAI, Inc., OpenAI, L.P., OpenAI, LLC..(pc) (Entered: 08/25/2026)
- #82026-08-24
REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to OpenAI, Inc.; OpenAI, LP; OpenAI GP, LLC; OpenAI, LLC; OpenAI OpCo, LLC; OpenAI Global, LLC; OAI Corporation, LLC; OpenAI Holdings, LLC; OpenAI Group PBC, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by wikiHow, Inc...(Fire, Dustin) (Entered: 08/24/2026)
- #72026-08-24
AO 121 FORM COPYRIGHT - CASE OPENING - SUBMITTED. In compliance with the provisions of 17 U.S.C. 508, the Register of Copyrights is hereby advised that a court action has been filed on the following copyright(s) in the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York. Form e-mailed to Register of Copyrights. (sj) (Entered: 08/24/2026)
- 2026-08-24
Case Designated ECF. (sj)
- 2026-08-24
CASE REFERRED to Judge Sidney H. Stein as possibly related to 1:25md3143. (sj)
- 2026-08-24
***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS. Notice to Attorney Dustin Fire to RE-FILE Document No. 6 Request for Issuance of Summons. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): the PDF attached to the docket entry for the issuance of summons is not correct; Filing Court was omitted on PDF. Re-file the document using the event type Request for Issuance of Summons found under the event list Service of Process - select the correct filer/filers - and attach the correct summons form PDF. (sj)
- 2026-08-24
Case Referred as Possibly Related
- 2026-08-24
Case Designated ECF
- 2026-08-24
Notice to Attorney Regarding Case Opening Statistical Error Correction
- 2026-08-24
Case Opening Initial Assignment Notice
- 2026-08-24
Notice to Attorney Regarding Deficient Request for Issuance of Summons
- 2026-08-24
CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Unassigned. (sj)
- 2026-08-24
***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING CIVIL. CASE OPENING STATISTICAL ERROR CORRECTION: Notice to attorney Dustin Fire. The following case opening statistical information was erroneously selected/entered: County code New York. The following correction(s) have been made to your case entry: the County code has been modified to XX Out of State. (sj)
Docket history from CourtListener/RECAP — most recent first.