South Korean broadcasters sue OpenAI — a precedent for media compensation and information sovereignty
KBS, MBC and SBS filed a joint lawsuit against OpenAI over alleged unlicensed use of news content. A decision in Seoul could change the rules of the game for media around the world — and for Ukraine as well.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
February 23, 2026 · 2 min read
What happened
Three leading South Korean broadcasters — KBS, MBC and SBS — have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI with the Central District Court of Seoul. According to KBS, the broadcasters are demanding that the unlicensed use of their news content to train language models be stopped and that damages be compensated. This is the first case in which all three television networks have acted jointly against a global AI company.
Why it matters
The lawsuit seeks to establish a mechanism for fair compensation for media and to curb the unauthorized use of journalistic materials. The Association of Korean Broadcasters emphasizes that OpenAI is earning substantial profits from services for the development of which, they argue, content was used without licenses.
"OpenAI is fully aware that using news content requires obtaining a lawful and valid license"
— The Association of Korean Broadcasters
International context
The lawsuit in Seoul fits into a broader trend of legal challenges to technology companies over the use of creative materials when training AI. In December 2025, journalist John Carreiru filed a lawsuit against several major companies, including OpenAI, accusing them of illegally using books and other works to train models — thus legal frameworks for interaction between media and platforms are gradually taking shape.
What it means for Ukraine
The court’s decision in Seoul could set a precedent for European and Ukrainian courts and regulators. For Ukrainian media this issue is not only about revenue but also about information sovereignty: whether large models can automatically draw on local materials without permission and compensation, and how this will affect the resilience of independent journalism during information warfare.
Practically, two basic scenarios are possible: technology companies will conclude licensing agreements with content providers, or courts and regulators will establish transparent compensation mechanisms. Both options will change access to information, AI business models, and the financial base for journalistic investigations.
From here — it is up to the court and negotiations: will declarations of responsibility turn into concrete agreements that protect journalists’ work and societies’ information security. This question directly concerns Ukraine as well — will we be able to defend our rights amid global digital competition?
