New York Times Publisher Calls on News Industry to Demand Stronger IP Protections From AI Firms
A.G. Sulzberger addressed the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille on June 1, calling on publishers to protect their rights and press legislators for stronger safeguards. He cited data showing AI-driven search reduces referral traffic by up to 96 percent.
RapplerG. Sulzberger told attendees at the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille, France, on June 1 that AI companies are failing to ensure public access to trustworthy news and information. ” Industry research cited by Sulzberger shows that getting a Google user to click a link is now 10 times harder than it was a decade ago.
A Tollbit study found that AI competitors send referral traffic at a rate 96 percent lower than Google search. Sulzberger noted that Google still sets the high-water mark for sending readers to publishers. Sulzberger said news organizations are collectively smaller and weaker than two decades ago while technology companies are bigger and stronger.
He urged publishers to insist on respect for their intellectual property rights and to push back when those rights are not honored. He advised newsrooms to examine licensing deals carefully because tech companies have already taken content and intend to use it regardless.
Sulzberger said any payment should be measured against fair value and that publishers should retain meaningful control over how their work is used.
Sulzberger called on the news industry to present legislators with a short list of demands. These include robust intellectual property protections, requirements that AI scraping bots identify themselves, transparency on how work is used by AI systems, and legal responsibility for defamatory content generated by AI.
He also recommended that news organizations join together, work with other creative industries, participate in amicus briefs, and remain active in trade associations.
Inside newsrooms, Sulzberger said organizations should set thoughtful standards for responsible AI use and apply the technology aggressively to improve journalism and strengthen business models. He added that distinctive original reporting remains essential for news outlets to serve as destinations rather than intermediaries.
Sulzberger stated that trusted news and information produced by experienced professionals with rigorous processes is rarer and more needed than ever.
He said he remains convinced of the value that quality news organizations create for readers, communities, society, and even AI models. The full speech is available on the WAN-IFRA website, Rappler reported.
Transparency
Reported by a single outlet. This score reflects source tier and factual specificity — corroboration is limited with one source.
Story details
Related Stories
thehindu.comRubio Tells Congress Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei Is Alive and Increasingly Active as U.S. Seeks Concessions
Marco Rubio testified before Congress on Tuesday that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and increasingly engaged. He also restated U.S. commitment to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
thenation.comHegseth Rejects Navy One-Star Promotions Selected by Board, Citing Merit Over DEI
Pete Hegseth removed several senior Navy officers from a promotion list to one-star admiral and four Army colonels from a brigadier general list. The moves follow earlier interventions and come after 19 senior generals or flag officers have been fired or sidelined since he took o…
France 24EU Agrees on Rules to Deport Rejected Migrants to Third-Country Return Hubs
European Union lawmakers and member states agreed Monday on new rules that let countries send migrants ordered to leave the bloc to centers in third countries. The deal creates a legal framework for return hubs where rejected asylum seekers or people without legal status can be h…