Adobe sued over alleged use of authors' books to train AI: what writers need to know
Adobe is facing a proposed class action that claims its AI tools were trained on copyrighted books without permission. The complaint, filed in California federal court, centers on how the company built and deployed its models.
Author Elizabeth Lyon alleges Adobe used pirated copies of her instructional books, and others, to train its SlimLM small language models. Those models reportedly help users with document tasks on mobile devices.
This is the first major lawsuit of this kind against Adobe and part of a broader wave of U.S. cases brought by authors against AI companies. Other targets have included OpenAI and Anthropic, with one Anthropic class action reportedly settling in August for $1.5 billion.
Adobe has not yet commented publicly on the suit. Lyon seeks monetary damages on behalf of a proposed class of copyright owners who say their works were misused.
Why this matters for writers
- If the court finds training on pirated copies is unlawful, it could redraw the lines on how AI companies source data.
- Any precedent set here may influence compensation expectations for rights holders across the industry.
- The case highlights an ongoing risk: AI outputs that echo your text without a license or credit.
- If you publish online, your work may be scraped. Clear licensing terms and proactive steps can reduce exposure.
Practical steps to protect your work
- Register your manuscripts, blog posts, and courses. It strengthens your position in court and increases potential damages. Start registration.
- Keep clean records: drafts, timestamps, contracts, ISBNs, and sales receipts. Preserve evidence before sending takedown notices.
- Update your contracts and website terms to prohibit data mining and AI training without a license.
- Spot-check AI tools for verbatim or near-verbatim copying of your text. Document findings with prompts, outputs, and dates.
- Consult an IP attorney before sending demand letters or joining a class action. Small choices early can affect outcomes.
- Brush up on fair use basics so you know where disputes tend to land. Fair use overview.
If you're integrating AI into your workflow, favor tools and training that respect creators' rights. For structured learning paths by job, see Complete AI Training: Courses by Job.
Case details
- Case: Lyon v. Adobe Inc., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 5:25-cv-10732
- Plaintiff: Elizabeth Lyon
- For Lyon: Eugene Turin of McGuire Law
- For Adobe: Attorney information not yet available
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