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Category: Bartz v. Anthropic

Judge Alsup grants preliminary approval of $1.5 billion settlement, largest in copyright history, in class action filed by Bartz v. Anthropic.

According to Annelise Levy of Bloomberg Law, Judge Alsup just approved the $1.5 billion class action settlement, the largest ever for a copyright lawsuit. The Judge called it “fair,” which is required under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(e)(2) (“fair, reasonable, and adequate”). Justin Nelson, the lead plaintiffs’ attorney from Susman Godfrey, reportedly described the…
Read more: Judge Alsup grants preliminary approval of $1.5 billion settlement, largest in copyright history, in class action filed by Bartz v. Anthropic.
Parties in Bartz v. Anthropic answer Judge Alsup’s 34 questions in 50 pages

50 pages. It took 50 pages for the parties in Bartz v. Anthropic to answer the 34 highly detailed questions Judge Alsup instructed them to answer. Judge Alsup had picked apart the proposed settlement process in those 34 questions. Tomorrow is the hearing on the motion for preliminary approval of the class settlement. Let’s see…
Read more: Parties in Bartz v. Anthropic answer Judge Alsup’s 34 questions in 50 pages
Bartz book authors try again to get approval of proposed class settlement in suit v. Anthropic. Will Judge Alsup approve this week?

The Bartz book authors went back to address all the objections and concerns Judge Alsup raised, in court and in 33 questions posed in 2 orders. At the last hearing on Sept. 7, 2025, things didn’t go well as most of the 54 minutes were spent on all the things Judge Alsup found deficient in…
Read more: Bartz book authors try again to get approval of proposed class settlement in suit v. Anthropic. Will Judge Alsup approve this week?
Judge Alsup picks apart Bartz’s proposed settlement process, listing now 33 questions for parties to address

Late Tuesday, Judge Alsup issued another order picking apart gaps and inconsistencies in the Bartz authors’ proposed settlement process. It just shows how meticulous Judge Alsup is in dissecting the proposed settlement process. Now, the total questions that the parties must address has ballooned to 33 questions. (See below for the first list.) To me…
Read more: Judge Alsup picks apart Bartz’s proposed settlement process, listing now 33 questions for parties to address
Bartz book authors file the List of Works and Class, but under seal.

Unfortunately, the Bartz book authors have filed their list of Works and Class with an accompanying motion to file it under seal. It does not even state what the total number is.
Read more: Bartz book authors file the List of Works and Class, but under seal.
Judge Alsup picks apart inconsistencies and gaps in Bartz’s proposed settlement process. Asks parties to answer 17 questions by Sept. 23.

With a meticulous eye, Judge William Alsup picked apart inconsistencies and gaps in the claims process proposed for the class action settlement in Bartz v. Anthropic. The Judge is clearly concerned about a situation involving multiple copyright holders in a work for which not all elect to opt into the class. He’s also concerned about…
Read more: Judge Alsup picks apart inconsistencies and gaps in Bartz’s proposed settlement process. Asks parties to answer 17 questions by Sept. 23.
Authors Guild, American Publishers Assn. CEOs listened to Judge Alsup’s scrutiny of their roles at settlement hearing in Bartz case. Then issued statements afterwards.

It’s a day after what feels like the most stunning hearing in any of the 50 copyright lawsuits against AI companies. Yesterday, Judge Alsup aired his list of many “grievances” on the Bartz book authors’ proposed class action settlement for an estimated $1.5 billion, the largest copyright settlement in U.S. history. “We’ll see if I…
Read more: Authors Guild, American Publishers Assn. CEOs listened to Judge Alsup’s scrutiny of their roles at settlement hearing in Bartz case. Then issued statements afterwards.
Shocker: Judge Alsup “postpones” preliminary approval of class settlement in Bartz v. Anthropic. Updated with order.

UPDATED VERSION: Well, it looks like things are not as bad as first reported. Judge Alsup issued an order “postponing”–not denying–approval of the proposed class settlement: Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge William Alsup: Motion Hearing re: 363 Motion for Preliminary Approval held on 9/8/2025. Preliminary approval was postponed pending submission of further clarifying…
Read more: Shocker: Judge Alsup “postpones” preliminary approval of class settlement in Bartz v. Anthropic. Updated with order.
On eve of hearing, Judge Alsup “disappointed” proposed settlement leaves issues unresolved, including Works and Class. Also wants Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger, American Publishers CEO Maria Pallante to attend.

On the eve of Monday’s hearing on the proposed class action settlement in Bartz v. Anthropic, Judge Alsup said he “is disappointed that counsel have left important questions to be answered in the future, including respecting the Works List, the Class List, the Claim Form, and, particularly for works with multiple claimants, the processes for…
Read more: On eve of hearing, Judge Alsup “disappointed” proposed settlement leaves issues unresolved, including Works and Class. Also wants Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger, American Publishers CEO Maria Pallante to attend.
Bartz book authors, Anthropic announce terms of proposed class action settlement. At least $1.5 billion. Destroy pirated book copies. Fair or foul?

Well, well, well. Earlier today, I predicted the proposed class settlement would be “at least $1 billlion or more.” At high noon today, the parties filed their motion for pre-approval of the proposed settlement. The amount? “At least 1.5 billion.” They say that’s highest reported copyright settlement ever. We learned that Bartz identified so far…
Read more: Bartz book authors, Anthropic announce terms of proposed class action settlement. At least $1.5 billion. Destroy pirated book copies. Fair or foul?