ChatGPT now blocks requests to copy an author's style
OpenAI's ChatGPT is refusing direct requests to mimic famous writers, but may still capture their broad qualities. The change could have real legal implications for AI writing tools.
BY FOUNDERBUILT AI NEWS
ChatGPT has started refusing direct requests to copy a specific author's style, a notable shift in how OpenAI handles one of generative AI's most contentious features. Users asking ChatGPT to write in the style of a named author are increasingly met with refusals, a change spotted in recent weeks as the company tightens its approach to copyrighted creative work.
The new behavior is nuanced, though. While direct requests are blocked, ChatGPT may still capture a writer's broad qualities when asked in less explicit ways, according to Ars Technica. That distinction could matter legally, since imitating general style is far harder to claim as copyright infringement than reproducing specific passages. The shift follows years of lawsuits from authors accusing AI companies of training models on their books without permission.
For founders building on AI writing tools, the change is a reminder that style mimicry sits in a legal grey zone that keeps narrowing. Expect more behavior like this as publishers and authors push for clearer boundaries, and watch how competitors such as Anthropic and Google respond to similar pressure.