A class-action lawsuit against AI company Anthropic over copyright infringement is nearing settlement, with both parties reaching an agreement in principle[1]. The lawsuit, filed by authors Andrea Bartz, Kirk Wallace Johnson, and Charles Graeber, alleged Anthropic illegally downloaded millions of books to train its AI models[2].
U.S. District Judge William Alsup certified what could be the largest copyright class action ever, potentially including up to 7 million claimants[1:1]. The lawsuit claimed Anthropic pirated books from online sources including Books3, Library Genesis, and Pirate Library Mirror[2:1].
“This historic settlement will benefit all class members,” said Justin A. Nelson, attorney for the authors[1:2]. The parties must file a motion for preliminary approval by September 5, 2025[1:3].
While settlement terms remain undisclosed, the case had serious implications - industry advocates warned that if every eligible author filed a claim, it could “financially ruin” the AI industry[1:4]. Anthropic had previously argued the lawsuit threatened its survival as a company[1:5].
Research and study material should absolutely not be gated to benefit everyone. But recreational pieces should absolutely be protected.
Insidious language to imply people who restrict one type of information is bad and anti humanity, while restricting information you classify as ‘recreational’ - that still provides educational background, cultural identity, a sense of shared community and media with friends, and that is literally out of reach for many poor people in first world countries or most people in third world countries, that do not have libraries, or the funds to buy books and videos - or even the devices to play videos on - no, it’s ‘protecting’ the poor rich billionaire authors who live in their mansions because they wrote a book about a wizard they don’t want people to read without giving them even more money to attack trans people with.
There are many indie authors that would lose their only income. I am thinking about these people. Do you really think it is fair for them?