Link: Anthropic to pay $1.5 billion to authors in landmark AI settlement

Anthropic has agreed to pay at least $1.5 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit with authors over AI copyright issues. This agreement represents potentially the largest publicly reported recovery in US copyright litigation history.

The settlement will be paid out at $3,000 per copyrighted work, impacting a possible 500,000 works. Additionally, if more claims are approved, Anthropic commits to paying an extra $3,000 per work.

A court hearing scheduled for September 8 will determine the final approval of the settlement. Anthropic will also be required to destroy all original and copied files involved in the case.

The settlement does not license future use of the works for AI training, and claims after August 25, 2025, will not be covered. This maintains protections for authors against unauthorized future use of their works.

Last year, a federal judge ruled that Anthropic could use legally bought books for AI training but faced separate charges for using pirated books. The decision was part of ongoing legal complexities surrounding AI and copyright law.

The landmark agreement underscores a growing legal focus on the responsibilities of AI firms in respecting copyright laws. It also reflects the tension between ongoing lawsuits and the collaborations forming between AI companies and creatives to further technological advancements. #

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