Judge Blasts $1.5B Anthropic Book-Piracy Settlement, Trial Back in Play

Judge Skewers $1.5B Anthropic Deal Over Alleged Pirated Books: What Writers Should Know

A federal judge in San Francisco blasted a proposed $1.5 billion settlement between Anthropic and authors who say nearly 465,000 books were scraped from pirate sites to train the Claude chatbot. After an hour of sharp criticism, U.S. District Judge William Alsup set a September 25 hearing to decide if he can "hold [his] nose and approve it."

The deal on the table

The proposal would pay roughly $3,000 per book to authors and publishers whose works appear on the list tied to Anthropic's training data. The judge pressed for firmer assurances that the list won't expand later, exposing Anthropic to "lawsuits coming out of the woodwork."

In June, Alsup ruled that training AI on copyrighted works isn't illegal per se, but said Anthropic wrongfully acquired millions of books from pirate websites to improve Claude. That split ruling is why this settlement matters-and why the details of claims and notice must be airtight.

Why the judge is skeptical

Alsup's top concern: the claims process. He wants proof that everyone who's eligible will be properly notified and paid, so writers don't "get the shaft." He ordered the parties to submit a claims form for his review by September 22, ahead of the September 25 hearing.

He also flagged potential pressure on authors from major groups "working behind the scenes," naming the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers (AAP). AAP's Maria Pallante called the court's vision for claims administration "unworkable," while the Authors Guild said it's "confused" by the suggestion it's undermining writers and insists it's acting with transparency.

Bottom line: Alsup may still send this to trial if the process feels sloppy or unfair.

Key names in the room

Authors who sued: thriller writer Andrea Bartz, and nonfiction authors Charles Graeber and Kirk Wallace Johnson. Johnson called the settlement "the beginning of a fight on behalf of humans that don't believe we have to sacrifice everything on the altar of AI."

What writers should do now

• Watch for official notice. If the settlement advances, there will be a formal class notice and a claims portal. Until then, avoid informal "sign-up" links or pressure to commit.
• Inventory your works. Keep a clean list of titles, ISBNs, publication dates, and rights status. You'll need it for any claim.
• Coordinate with your publisher. Confirm who holds which rights and who would file a claim for each work to avoid duplicate or missed filings.
• Decide your posture early. If a finalized deal emerges, you'll have a window to accept, object, or opt out. Read the fine print before choosing.
• Document potential inclusion. If you have evidence your book appeared in pirate corpora or training datasets, save links, screenshots, and timestamps.
• Follow trusted sources. Check updates from the Authors Guild and AAP for verified guidance: Authors Guild and Association of American Publishers.

Why this case matters for your catalog

If approved, this settlement sets a reference point: about $3,000 per book for alleged unauthorized acquisition via pirate sites. If rejected, expect a trial that could clarify how far AI firms can go in sourcing training data-and what clean data sourcing must look like.

Either way, your leverage improves with preparation: accurate records, clear rights chains, and an informed stance on whether to participate or opt out if that choice is offered.

What's next

• September 22: Parties must submit a claims form design to the judge for scrutiny.
• September 25: Hearing to revisit approval. The case could still proceed to trial.

Practical tip: Expect lots of noise. Rely on official court notices or statements from recognized organizations before taking action. This article is for information only and is not legal advice.

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