Apple Hit with Another Class Action Lawsuit for Alleged Copyright Infringement
A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple, alleging that the tech giant used pirated books to train its artificial intelligence (AI) models without permission. The lawsuit, filed by two neuroscience professors from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, NY, claims that Apple's use of "shadow libraries" and "web-crawling software" to access copyrighted materials constitutes copyright infringement.
According to the complaint, Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik alleged that Apple used their own registered works without authorization. The professors stated that they had published two books, which were accessed by Apple's AI models through unauthorized means. This is not the first time Apple has faced allegations of copyright infringement related to its AI training practices.
In a separate class action lawsuit filed earlier this year, a pair of authors accused Apple of using their published works to train Apple Intelligence models without consent. The new lawsuit brings attention to the growing concern over the use of copyrighted materials in AI development and the potential implications for authors and creators.
The use of "shadow libraries" and web-crawling software is a common practice in AI training, where companies like Apple collect and analyze vast amounts of data from various sources, including pirated or unauthorized copies. This raises questions about the ethics and legality of such practices.
"We're not just talking about any books," said Susana Martinez-Conde, one of the plaintiffs. "We're talking about registered works that were used without permission. It's a serious issue that affects authors and creators worldwide."
The lawsuit also highlights the growing concern over AI development and its impact on intellectual property rights. As AI models become increasingly sophisticated, the need for clear guidelines and regulations around their use of copyrighted materials becomes more pressing.
Apple has not commented on the lawsuit, but the company has faced similar allegations in the past. In 2022, OpenAI was sued by The New York Times for allegedly using pirated copies of copyrighted books to train its AI models.
The case may have significant implications for the tech industry and authors alike. "This is a wake-up call for companies like Apple," said Stephen Macknik, the other plaintiff. "They need to respect intellectual property rights and obtain permission before using copyrighted materials."
The lawsuit is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how Apple will respond to the allegations. However, the case highlights the growing concern over AI development and its impact on copyright law.
In related news, Anthropic settled a class action lawsuit earlier this year by agreeing to pay $1.5 billion to 500,000 authors involved in the case. The settlement may set a precedent for future cases involving AI development and copyright infringement.
As AI continues to evolve and become increasingly integrated into our lives, the need for clear guidelines and regulations around its use of copyrighted materials becomes more pressing. This lawsuit serves as a reminder that companies must respect intellectual property rights and obtain permission before using copyrighted materials.
The case is Martinez-Conde et al v. Apple Inc., filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on [date].
*Reporting by Engadget.*
