Wikipedia’s operator says a bad AI copyright ruling could threaten the open web

<figure> <img alt="Wikipedia “W” and globe on a grey background." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/STK037_WIKIPEDIA_A.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Wikimedia Foundation is staking out a middle ground in a group of landmark AI copyright cases, pushing courts to legally protect large language models (LLMs) training on copyrighted work - but not chatbots regurgitating that work to users. An overly black-and-white ruling, it says, could either deprive Wikipedians of useful AI-based tools or endanger the open web.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In an amicus brief filed Friday, the nonprofit behind Wikipedia weighed in on a set of lawsuits pitting publishers including <em>The New York Times</em> against OpenAI and Microsoft, taking neither side. "Wikimedia is concerned that the parties' positions in this case push for overbroa …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/1022880/wikipedia-openai-new-york-times-copyright">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>