Authors Accuse Meta Of Using Pirated Books To Train Its AI Model After Getting Approval From Mark Zuckerberg: Report

Authors noted that Mark Zuckerberg “approved Meta’s use of the LibGen dataset."

The lawsuit, initially filed in 2023, claims that Meta misused the authors' copyrighted works to train its large language model, Llama.

Source : X/@BRICSinfo

A group of authors, including Ta-Nehisi Coates and comedian Sarah Silverman, have accused Meta Platforms of using pirated books to train its artificial intelligence systems with approval from CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The allegations were detailed in court filings made public in a California federal court. According to the authors, internal documents revealed during the discovery process indicate that Meta was aware the materials used were pirated.

According to a report by Reuters, Meta spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meta Misused Authors' Copyrighted Works?

The lawsuit, initially filed in 2023, claims that Meta misused the authors' copyrighted works to train its large language model, Llama. This case is part of a broader wave of legal actions accusing tech companies of using copyrighted materials from authors, artists, and other creators without consent to develop AI systems. Meta and other defendants have countered these claims by asserting that their use of such materials falls under the principle of fair use.

In newly filed court papers, the authors have sought permission to submit an updated complaint. They allege that Meta relied on the AI training dataset LibGen, which reportedly contains millions of pirated works distributed through peer-to-peer torrent networks. As per the filing, the authors said, internal Meta communications showed Zuckerberg “approved Meta’s use of the LibGen dataset, notwithstanding concerns within Meta’s AI executive team (and others at Meta) that LibGen is ‘a dataset we know to be pirated.'”

US District Judge Vince Chhabria previously dismissed claims that Meta’s chatbots generated text infringing on the authors’ copyrights and allegations that Meta unlawfully removed copyright management information (CMI) from their works. However, the authors argued on Wednesday that new evidence strengthens their infringement claims, supports reviving their CMI allegations, and justifies adding a new computer fraud claim to the case.

During a hearing on Thursday, Judge Chhabria stated that he would permit the authors to file an amended complaint. Despite this allowance, he expressed doubts about the validity of the fraud and CMI claims.