Naver sued for using broadcaster content to train AI systems
South Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS sued Naver through the Korean Broadcasters Association, alleging the internet company used their news content without permission to train generative AI systems HyperCLOVA and HyperCLOVA X, violating copyright law and unfair competition rules.
What happened
The Korean Broadcasters Association filed a lawsuit against Naver on behalf of three South Korean TV broadcasters - KBS, MBC, and SBS - alleging that Naver acquired and incorporated their news articles into AI models without obtaining prior consent.
The KBA had issued notices in December 2023 to technology companies asserting that using news content for AI development requires explicit permission and compensation. When Naver refused to disclose details of its data acquisition activities, the broadcasters initiated legal action.
Reported impact
The broadcasters claim Naver's practices infringe on their intellectual property rights and threaten their business interests by using their content without authorisation or compensation.
Index analysis
The case highlights ongoing tensions between traditional media and technology companies over content ownership and usage rights in AI development. The KBA has indicated it may pursue similar actions against other tech firms if they continue to use news data without permission.
Governance controls
Naver initially refused to disclose the source and content of its AI training data and the data acquisition path in response to KBA requests. Following the emergence of the issue, Naver revised its terms and conditions and refrained from using news data without consent, stating it would engage in public discussions and consider media feedback.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.