Meta faces accusations of deliberately using pirated books to train its AI systems, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg allegedly approving the use of unauthorized content despite internal concerns.
Key allegations: The lawsuit, filed by prominent authors including Ta-Nehisi Coates and Sarah Silverman, claims Meta knowingly used pirated books from the LibGen dataset to train its Llama language model.
- Internal Meta communications revealed that executives were aware LibGen contained pirated content
- The dataset was allegedly distributed through peer-to-peer torrents
- Documents produced during discovery suggest Zuckerberg approved the use of LibGen despite concerns from Meta’s AI executive team
Legal context: This case represents one of several ongoing legal battles over AI companies’ use of copyrighted material for training purposes.
- The authors initially sued Meta in 2023 over unauthorized use of their works
- U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria previously dismissed claims about chatbot-generated text and copyright management information
- The authors are now seeking permission to file an updated complaint with new evidence
- Similar lawsuits are pending against other AI companies regarding unauthorized use of copyrighted works
Meta’s position: The tech giant has yet to respond to these specific allegations.
- Meta and other AI companies have generally argued that their use of copyrighted material falls under “fair use” doctrine
- The company has not immediately responded to requests for comment on these new allegations
Legal developments: Recent court proceedings suggest a complex path forward for the case.
- Authors are attempting to revive previously dismissed claims based on new evidence
- They’re also seeking to add a new computer fraud claim
- Judge Chhabria has indicated he will allow an amended complaint
- However, the judge expressed skepticism about some of the proposed claims
Looking ahead: This case could set important precedents for AI training practices and intellectual property rights in the digital age, potentially forcing tech companies to reconsider how they source training data for their AI models. The outcome may also influence how other courts handle similar cases involving AI training and copyright infringement.
Recent Stories
DOE fusion roadmap targets 2030s commercial deployment as AI drives $9B investment
The Department of Energy has released a new roadmap targeting commercial-scale fusion power deployment by the mid-2030s, though the plan lacks specific funding commitments and relies on scientific breakthroughs that have eluded researchers for decades. The strategy emphasizes public-private partnerships and positions AI as both a research tool and motivation for developing fusion energy to meet data centers' growing electricity demands. The big picture: The DOE's roadmap aims to "deliver the public infrastructure that supports the fusion private sector scale up in the 2030s," but acknowledges it cannot commit to specific funding levels and remains subject to Congressional appropriations. Why...
Oct 17, 2025Tying it all together: Credo’s purple cables power the $4B AI data center boom
Credo, a Silicon Valley semiconductor company specializing in data center cables and chips, has seen its stock price more than double this year to $143.61, following a 245% surge in 2024. The company's signature purple cables, which cost between $300-$500 each, have become essential infrastructure for AI data centers, positioning Credo to capitalize on the trillion-dollar AI infrastructure expansion as hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Elon Musk's xAI rapidly build out massive computing facilities. What you should know: Credo's active electrical cables (AECs) are becoming indispensable for connecting the massive GPU clusters required for AI training and inference. The company...
Oct 17, 2025Vatican launches Latin American AI network for human development
The Vatican hosted a two-day conference bringing together 50 global experts to explore how artificial intelligence can advance peace, social justice, and human development. The event launched the Latin American AI Network for Integral Human Development and established principles for ethical AI governance that prioritize human dignity over technological advancement. What you should know: The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, the Vatican's research body for social issues, organized the "Digital Rerum Novarum" conference on October 16-17, combining academic research with practical AI applications. Participants included leading experts from MIT, Microsoft, Columbia University, the UN, and major European institutions. The conference...