Prominent Authors File Lawsuit Against Microsoft for Unauthorized Use of Their Works in AI Training

A group of authors, including notable figures like Kai Bird and Jia Tolentino, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging that the company used nearly 200,000 pirated books to train its Megatron AI model. This lawsuit is part of an ongoing legal battle between creative professionals and tech companies over the use of copyrighted material for AI training. The authors request a court injunction against Microsoft’s actions along with statutory damages of up to $150,000 for each allegedly misused work. The lawsuit follows a recent ruling where a California judge found that Anthropic’s AI training might involve copyright infringement, but it also acknowledged fair use. The issue spans various media types, as other lawsuits against companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Disney also revolve around the alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted material for AI development. Tech companies defend their practices by claiming they utilize fair use, arguing that halting their access to such materials could hinder AI advancements.

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