ROME, March 19 (Reuters) - A Rome court has cancelled a

15-million-euro ($17 million) fine that Italy's data protection

authority imposed on ChatGPT maker OpenAI, a ruling showed on

Thursday.

* The court did not immediately release an explanation for

its ruling.

* "We welcome the decision by the Court of Rome. We've

always been committed to respecting user privacy and look

forward to helping more Italian people, businesses and society

benefit from AI," OpenAI said in a statement.

* The data protection authority, known as Garante, declined

to comment.

* The fine was issued in December 2024 over the alleged

unlawful use of personal data by the generative AI application.

* At the time, OpenAI said the decision was

"disproportionate" and said it would appeal.

* In March 2025 the Rome court had temporarily suspended the

fine, pending a ruling on the merits of the case.

($1 = 0.8718 euros)