German Court Rules Against OpenAI in Major Copyright Case Over Song Lyrics

Berlin, Nov. 11, 2025 — A German court has ruled against OpenAI in a significant copyright infringement case, marking one of the first major legal defeats for the U.S.-based artificial intelligence company in Europe. The court sided with a local plaintiff who alleged that OpenAI’s language models had used copyrighted content without proper authorization.

According to court documents, the ruling emphasizes that AI developers must ensure transparency and respect intellectual property when training large models. Legal analysts say this could set a precedent across the European Union, especially as regulators intensify scrutiny of AI companies’ data sourcing practices.

OpenAI has not yet commented on whether it plans to appeal the decision. The case adds to the growing list of global legal challenges facing AI firms as governments work to define clearer boundaries for generative AI’s use of public and proprietary data.

Analysis
The decision may have far-reaching implications for AI regulation in Europe, where lawmakers are advancing the EU AI Act and pushing for stronger copyright protections. Experts note that the outcome could encourage similar lawsuits against major AI firms, reshaping how training data is collected and licensed across the continent.