100+ Authors Sue Anthropic for $75M Over Pirated Books Used to Train Claude
Key Takeaways
- ▸100+ authors demand $75M ($150K per book) from Anthropic for unauthorized use of 500+ pirated works in Claude training
- ▸Anthropic allegedly exploited BitTorrent and illegal platforms (Library Genesis, Pirate Library Mirror) to access millions of unauthorized book copies
- ▸Suit includes prominent figures like Nolan Bushnell, Zachary Sklar, and bestselling authors; this is a separate action from the prior $1.5B settlement
Summary
Over 100 authors have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic in Northern California District Court, demanding $75 million in damages for allegedly using more than 500 pirated books to train its Claude AI model. The complaint alleges that Anthropic unlawfully accessed illegal book-sharing platforms including Library Genesis and Pirate Library Mirror via BitTorrent to download millions of unauthorized copies. Notable authors named in the suit include Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Zachary Sklar, and Newbery Medal winner Donna Barba Higuera, with specific works cited including bestsellers like "Get Good with Money" by Tiffany Aliche and "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel. The plaintiffs are seeking $150,000 per pirated book, and this filing represents a separate action from a prior $1.5 billion class-action settlement reached in September involving thousands of authors.
- Combined legal actions suggest Anthropic used approximately 7 million creative works without authorization across all lawsuits
