Judge Alsup Grants Preliminary Approval to Anthropic Authors Settlement at $3,000 Per Book

Anthropic's $1.5B Settlement: What Writers Need to Know (and Do)

A federal judge has approved a settlement framework between Anthropic and a group of authors over copyright and piracy claims connected to AI training. The deal sets a payout of $3,000 per covered book, with notices going out by mail, email, and digital ads. Final approval comes after the claims process runs its course.

The final list of works was submitted on Sept. 15. If you believe your book is included, you can share your contact information via the Bartz settlement website and wait for instructions from the claims administration team.

Key facts at a glance

• Settlement amount: $1.5 billion, pending final approval after claims.
• Per-book payout: $3,000 for titles on the final list.
• Notifications: US mail, email, digital ads, and more.
• Next step: Authors file claims; the court reviews and considers final approval.

Why this matters to your income

In June, Judge William Alsup ruled that Anthropic's use of copyrighted text for training qualified as fair use-but the way the company got the books did not escape scrutiny. Court filings described sourcing from shadow libraries like LibGen and systematically acquiring and destroying used books to scan into a private dataset. That conduct drove the piracy claims behind this settlement.

Two days after Anthropic's fair use win, Meta won a similar case. These outcomes are setting a benchmark for how courts treat AI training and copyrighted works-and how writers get compensated when lines are crossed.

Who may be included

• Authors with works listed on the final settlement list submitted on Sept. 15.
• If you think your title is included, provide your contact info at the Bartz settlement website. The claims team will reach out with next steps.

How to prepare your claim now

• Make a clean list of your titles and ISBNs.
• Gather proof of authorship (contracts, copyright registrations, publisher statements, or royalty reports).
• Confirm your mailing and email addresses; add the claims administrator to your safe-sender list once shared.
• Track deadlines as soon as the notice arrives. Late claims risk missing payment.

What to expect next

• Official notices start going out. Watch your mail and inbox.
• The claims portal and instructions will be provided by the administration team.
• After claims are processed, the court reviews and may grant final approval.
• If your book is not on the final list, you likely won't be eligible-but monitor the notice in case there are updates or a dispute process.

Context and resources

If you want a refresher on fair use, this primer is clear and practical: U.S. Copyright Office: Fair Use.

Want practical ways to use AI without risking your rights or your royalties? Explore tools that help with ideation, outlining, and drafts here: AI tools for copywriting.

Bottom line for writers

• $3,000 per covered book is meaningful-get organized so you don't miss out.
• Watch for the official notice. Don't wait to gather documentation.
• This case will influence future disputes. Staying informed is a competitive advantage.