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Authors Sue Microsoft for Allegedly Using Pirated Books

6/27/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A group of authors is taking a stand against Microsoft, alleging the tech giant used nearly 200,000 pirated books to train its Megatron AI without consent. They are demanding up to $150,000 in damages for each work and a court order to halt further violations. This lawsuit echoes similar actions against Meta and Anthropic, underscoring the clash between AI innovation and copyright rights.

History

Historical Context

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), enacted in 1998, aimed to address copyright challenges in the digital realm. Recent lawsuits against Microsoft highlight ongoing conflicts over copyright in AI training, echoing earlier cases like Authors Guild v. Google. With damages potentially reaching $150,000 for each of the nearly 200,000 pirated works, the outcomes could reshape copyright protections amid rapid technological advancements.

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Story summary

A group of authors is taking a stand against Microsoft, alleging the tech giant used nearly 200,000 pirated books to train its Megatron AI without consent. They are demanding up to $150,000 in damages for each work and a court order to halt further violations. This lawsuit echoes similar actions against Meta and Anthropic, underscoring the clash between AI innovation and copyright rights.

1 / 2