If the thieving AI company can survive the settlement, then it is not big enough
9 hours ago
- #copyright-infringement
- #AI-ethics
- #tech-regulation
- Writing a book takes a lifetime, as it's an accumulation of experiences, not just the time spent drafting.
- Anthropic settled a $1.5 billion lawsuit for pirating books to train its AI, Claude, sourced illegally from LibGen.
- AI companies argue 'fair use' for training models with legally acquired books, but many initially stole content.
- The settlement is a fraction of Anthropic's $183 billion valuation, allowing them to avoid admitting wrongdoing.
- Tech companies often treat fines as business costs, undermining legal and ethical standards.
- Pirating books for AI training strips artistic value, turning creative work into profit-driven 'sludge'.
- Class-action lawsuits may not satisfy all authors, with some preferring harsher penalties over payouts.
- The consequences for theft should include losing profits and the company itself, not just settlements.