SAN FRANCISCO — A lawsuit alleging copyright infringement by Meta over its use of copyrighted books to train artificial intelligence models is advancing through the courts, despite the company’s defense that its actions constitute fair use. However, some claims within the lawsuit were dismissed by a federal judge.
Writers Richard Kadrey, Sarah Silverman, and Ta-Nehisi Coates have brought the case forward, accusing the tech giant of stripping copyright management information from their works in an effort to obscure the purported violations. These allegations were part of their broader claims that Meta used their books without permission to enhance the capabilities of its Llama AI models.
During a recent court hearing, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled that the claims of copyright infringement would continue to be considered, citing that the allegation “obviously” suggests a concrete injury which provides the authors the standing needed to pursue their case in court.
Chhabria’s decision highlighted that Meta’s alleged removal of copyright management information could plausibly be seen as an attempt to prevent the AI from revealing its training on copyrighted material. This point, among others, bolstered the authors’ case, allowing it to proceed further.
However, not all claims held up under scrutiny. The judge dismissed the charges related to the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act (CDAFA). He pointed out that the authors did not present evidence that Meta accessed their physical computers or servers, only that their book data was used.
Revealing insights into Meta’s practices were also unearthed during the legal proceedings. Statements within court files suggest that Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, personally approved the training of the Llama model using copyrighted content. Discussions among team members about potentially questionable practices for AI training have also surfaced, highlighting a cavalier approach to legal risks.
This lawsuit is part of a broader discussion and litigation landscape regarding the intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright law. Notably, similar cases are being scrutinized involving other big tech entities and publishers, including a public lawsuit initiated by The New York Times against OpenAI.
These ongoing cases may not only reshape the rules of copyright law but also set significant precedents for how AI technologies can be trained using existing copyrighted materials.
As the legal battles unfold, the outcomes could have far-reaching implications for authors, publishers, and the tech industry, potentially redefining the boundaries of intellectual property rights in the age of artificial intelligence.
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