# OpenAI Advocates for Unrestricted AI Training Data Access, Highlighting National Security Issues
## Introduction
OpenAI is calling on the U.S. government to guarantee unrestricted entry to AI training data, asserting that such access is vital for preserving national security and maintaining global leadership in AI. The organization is optimistic that former President Donald Trump’s forthcoming **AI Action Plan**, anticipated in July, will address ongoing copyright conflicts by affirming AI training as **fair use**. This action would permit AI firms to utilize copyrighted content for training without facing legal consequences, a position that has ignited considerable debate among rights holders.
## The Copyright Dispute and AI Training
Presently, U.S. courts are examining whether AI training qualifies as **fair use**. Rights holders contend that AI models trained on copyrighted materials could displace human creators in numerous sectors, diluting creative efforts and weakening intellectual property rights.
OpenAI, alongside various AI enterprises, is entangled in several legal battles regarding this matter. The company argues that AI models **transform** copyrighted materials instead of merely replicating them, rendering their use legally acceptable under the fair use doctrine. Nonetheless, a recent **landmark decision** favored rights holders, as a court determined that AI training does not fall under fair use in a dispute involving Thomson Reuters’ legal research entity **Westlaw**.
In spite of this hurdle, OpenAI is now looking to Trump’s AI Action Plan to avert similar outcomes in ongoing lawsuits, including a **high-profile case initiated by The New York Times**.
## OpenAI’s Perspective: AI Training as a National Security Necessity
In its policy proposals, OpenAI posits that restricting access to AI training data could disadvantage the U.S. in the global AI competition, especially against **China**. The organization asserts that the **People’s Republic of China (PRC)** already possesses extensive access to copyrighted information, granting it a competitive advantage over U.S. companies.
According to OpenAI:
> “The federal government can both secure Americans’ freedom to learn from AI and avoid losing our AI lead to the PRC by maintaining American AI models’ capacity to learn from copyrighted content.”
The organization emphasizes that **maximizing data access** is essential to ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of AI development.
## OpenAI’s Appeal for Federal Safeguards
In addition to copyright issues, OpenAI is also campaigning for **federal safeguards** against state-level AI regulations. The company warns that an increasing array of **state laws**—832 proposed in 2025 alone—could hinder AI innovation. Some of these regulations are based on **stringent European Union guidelines**, which OpenAI believes could impede U.S. competitiveness.
To counter this, OpenAI is urging Trump to:
1. **Pass a federal law that supersedes state AI regulations**, ensuring a cohesive national framework.
2. **Create a public-private AI collaboration**, allowing AI firms to partner with the government in exchange for legal protections.
3. **Influence international AI agreements**, guarding against foreign governments imposing restrictive rules on U.S. AI companies.
## Worries Regarding China’s AI Progress
OpenAI has consistently cautioned that China is swiftly bridging the AI gap with the U.S. The organization highlights China’s **DeepSeek AI model**, which has showcased advanced reasoning skills. OpenAI argues that if American AI companies encounter legal obstacles while Chinese counterparts do not, the U.S. risks losing its **technological advantage**.
> “The rapid developments seen with the PRC’s DeepSeek, among other recent innovations, demonstrate that America’s lead in frontier AI is not assured.”
## Conclusion
As the AI sector confronts escalating legal and regulatory obstacles, OpenAI is championing **comprehensive policy reforms** to secure its access to training data. The organization’s position has ignited a vigorous debate between **AI developers and rights holders**, with far-reaching consequences for the future of AI, copyright legislation, and national security.
With Trump’s AI Action Plan set to debut in July, the upcoming months could determine whether the U.S. adopts OpenAI’s vision of **unrestricted AI training** or enforces stricter measures to safeguard intellectual property rights.
