Anthropic to Pay $1.5 Billion for Stealing Authors' Works for AI Training

Anthropic to Pay $1.5 Billion for AI Training Data Piracy In a landmark settlement, Anthropic has agreed to pay $1.5 billion to authors whose works were pirated to train its artificial intelligence models. The agreement, which covers 500,000 works, marks the largest publicly reported recovery in US copyright litigation history. According to a press release provided to Ars, each author will receive $3,000 per work that Anthropic stole. However, depending on the number of claims submitted, the final figure per work could be higher. The settlement is pending court approval, with preliminary approval possible as early as this week and a final decision expected in 2026. Justin Nelson, a lawyer representing the three authors who initially sued to spark the class-action lawsuit, confirmed that Anthropic has agreed to the settlement terms. "This is a significant victory for authors and creators everywhere," Nelson said. "It sends a strong message that AI companies must respect the intellectual property rights of others." The pirated works were used to train Anthropic's language models, which are designed to generate human-like text. However, the use of copyrighted material without permission raises questions about the ethics of AI development and the need for greater transparency in the industry. Anthropic's actions have sparked concerns among authors, researchers, and policymakers about the potential consequences of AI training data piracy. "This settlement is a wake-up call for the tech industry," said Andrea Bartz, one of the authors involved in the lawsuit. "We hope that it will lead to greater accountability and more responsible practices in the development of AI." The use of copyrighted material without permission is not unique to Anthropic. Many AI companies have been accused of using pirated data to train their models. However, this settlement marks a significant shift in the industry's approach to intellectual property rights. As the use of AI continues to grow, so do concerns about its impact on society. The Anthropic settlement highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the development of AI. "This is not just a matter of money," said Charles Graeber, another author involved in the lawsuit. "It's about respecting the rights of creators and ensuring that AI is developed in a way that benefits society as a whole." The court's decision on the settlement will be closely watched by the tech industry and beyond. If approved, it could set a precedent for future lawsuits and have far-reaching implications for the development of AI. In related news, the US Copyright Office has announced plans to review its guidelines for AI training data usage. The move comes as policymakers and researchers grapple with the complex issues surrounding AI development and intellectual property rights. As the Anthropic settlement demonstrates, the intersection of AI and copyright law is a rapidly evolving field. As we continue to explore the possibilities and limitations of AI, it's essential that we prioritize transparency, accountability, and respect for intellectual property rights. *Reporting by Arstechnica.*