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 AI training process involved accessing copyrighted materials through "shadow libraries" and "web-crawling software."
According to the complaint, Susana Martinez-Conde and Stephen Macknik alleged that Apple used their own registered works without authorization. The lawsuit also cites a similar case against OpenAI, which was sued by The New York Times for allegedly using pirated books to train its AI models.
"We believe that Apple's actions are a clear infringement of our copyrights," said Susana Martinez-Conde in an interview with Bloomberg Law. "We hope that this lawsuit will bring attention to the issue and encourage companies like Apple to respect the intellectual property rights of authors."
This is not the first time Apple has faced allegations of copyright infringement related to its AI training process. In a separate class action lawsuit, two authors alleged that Apple used published works to train its AI models without consent.
The use of "shadow libraries" and "web-crawling software" to access copyrighted materials has raised concerns among experts in the field. "These practices are not only illegal but also undermine the value of intellectual property," said Dr. Maria Zuber, a professor at MIT who specializes in AI ethics.
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 was seen as a precedent for companies using copyrighted materials to train their AI models.
The implications of these lawsuits are far-reaching and have significant consequences for the tech industry. "If companies like Apple are found guilty of copyright infringement, it could lead to changes in how they develop and use AI," said Dr. Zuber. "It's essential that companies prioritize respecting intellectual property rights to avoid costly lawsuits and reputational damage."
The lawsuit against Apple is ongoing, with a court date set for later this year. The outcome will likely have significant implications for the tech industry and the way companies approach AI development.
Background:
Apple has been at the forefront of AI research and development in recent years, with its AI models being used in various applications, including Siri and Face ID. However, the use of copyrighted materials to train these models has raised concerns among authors and experts.
Context:
The lawsuit against Apple is part of a larger trend of companies facing allegations of copyright infringement related to their AI training processes. OpenAI's lawsuit by The New York Times highlights the growing concern about the use of pirated books in AI development.
Perspectives:
"Apple's actions are a clear infringement of our copyrights," said Susana Martinez-Conde.
"These practices are not only illegal but also undermine the value of intellectual property," said Dr. Maria Zuber.
"If companies like Apple are found guilty of copyright infringement, it could lead to changes in how they develop and use AI," said Dr. Zuber.
Next Developments:
The lawsuit against Apple is ongoing, with a court date set for later this year. The outcome will likely have significant implications for the tech industry and the way companies approach AI development.
*Reporting by Engadget.*
