Brazilian author Fernando Morais sues OpenAI over ChatGPT's use of copyrighted works
Brazilian journalist and author Fernando Morais filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on 13 August 2026, alleging that ChatGPT used his copyrighted books without permission or compensation. He claims the system can reproduce summaries and detailed content from three of his works and seeks damages of approximately 100,000 Brazilian reais plus an injunction to stop the unauthorized use.
What happened
Brazilian journalist and author Fernando Morais filed a lawsuit against OpenAI on 13 August 2026, claiming that ChatGPT used his copyrighted works without permission or payment. The lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT can reproduce summaries and detailed content from three of his books: Olga, Chatô: o Rei do Brasil, and Corações Sujos.
Morais's legal representatives tested ChatGPT with questions about his works and found that the system reproduced what they describe as the 'backbone and intellectual essence' of his biography of Chatô, including chapter-by-chapter summaries. The lawsuit was filed in the 11th Civil Court of São Paulo and assigned to judge Adriana Del Compari Maia da Cunha.
Reported impact
Morais contends that the use of his works in ChatGPT 'undermine[s] the publishing market, the venture investments of publishers, and the copyright that sustains the livelihood and intellectual creation of the writer.' He characterizes the practice as 'pure and simple piracy' comparable to finding his books under another person's name in a bookstore.
The plaintiff sought an initial damages award of approximately 100,000 Brazilian reais (R$ 100 mil), describing this as an estimative value given the difficulty in quantifying total damages from ongoing violations in a digital environment. He also requested a daily fine if OpenAI continues using his works without authorization.
Index analysis
The lawsuit invokes constitutional protections for copyright and Brazil's Copyright Law, which requires prior and explicit consent from authors for any use of their works. Morais's attorneys argue that the training and use of his literary works by ChatGPT violated these protections.
This case follows a broader pattern of legal action against AI companies over copyright. In September 2025, Anthropic agreed to pay 1.5 billion US dollars to settle a class action lawsuit from authors who alleged the company used their works without permission to train its Claude model.
Governance controls
The lawsuit requests that the court order suspension of the use of Morais's works in ChatGPT and issue an injunction establishing a daily penalty for non-compliance. The court was asked to compel OpenAI's representative to provide personal testimony and to allow Morais to present witnesses regarding the harm he has suffered.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.