Authors Target OpenAI, Meta With More Suits

Concerns continue to grow over how artificial intelligence may impact authors and creators.

Yet another set of authors has filed a set of class action lawsuits claiming unauthorized use of copyrighted works to train AI systems by OpenAI and Meta.

In the suit brought by Michael Chabon, David Henry Hwang, Matthew Klam, Rachel Louise Snyder, and Ayelet Waldman, the claims are pretty much identical to those made in previous suits, according to Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly executive editor.

“The plaintiffs claim that OpenAI and Meta have used unauthorized copies of their books, including copies that were allegedly scraped from notorious pirate sites” as part of their training data for AI systems, Albanese explains.

“They claim the training is illegal because at no point did Plaintiffs authorize or receive payment for their works,” he tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.

“Like the previous suits, the latest action seeks damages and injunctive relief, and puts forth six causes of action: direct copyright infringement; vicarious copyright infringement; a DMCA violation for the removal of copyright management information; violations of California’s unfair competition law; negligence; and unjust enrichment.”

Every Friday, CCC’s “Velocity of Content” features the editors and reporters of Publishers Weekly for an early look at what news publishers, editors, authors, agents, and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.