US Authors Granted Class Action Status Against Anthropic for Copyright Infringement
A California federal judge has allowed three authors suing the AI startup Anthropic to represent a nationwide class of writers in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The authors allege that Anthropic illegally downloaded millions of books from pirate websites to train its AI system.
Background of the Case
The lawsuit centers on Anthropic’s alleged use of books sourced from unauthorized online libraries, specifically LibGen and PiLiMi. These sites reportedly provide free access to millions of copyrighted books without permission from the authors or publishers.
U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the three authors—Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson—can act on behalf of all U.S. writers whose works were taken from these pirate libraries during 2021 and 2022.
Magnitude and Legal Implications
Judge Alsup noted that Anthropic may have downloaded as many as 7 million books without authorization. This could expose the company to substantial financial liability, potentially amounting to billions of dollars in damages if the authors prevail.
Anthropic, backed by Amazon and Alphabet, is considering challenging the ruling. The company argues that it would be impractical to verify copyright ownership for millions of works in a single lawsuit. Meanwhile, the authors’ attorney has declined to comment on the decision.
Fair Use vs. Copyright Violation
Earlier in the case, Judge Alsup recognized that Anthropic’s AI training could be considered fair use in certain respects. However, he found that Anthropic violated copyrights by maintaining a central repository of pirated books that was not necessarily involved in AI training.
This distinction is critical because it suggests that storing unauthorized copies, regardless of their use in training, can infringe on authors’ rights.
What This Means for Writers
- Class Action Representation: Writers across the U.S. who suspect their works were taken without permission can potentially join this class action.
- Copyright Protection: The ruling reinforces that unauthorized copying and storage of written works for AI training or any other use can be challenged in court.
- AI Training and Fair Use: While some AI training methods may qualify as fair use, companies must be cautious about how they source and store copyrighted material.
For writers interested in how AI is impacting content creation and copyright, exploring educational resources can provide valuable insights. Check out courses on AI and copyright topics at Complete AI Training.
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