Category: Bartz v. Anthropic

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?
Will Anthropic’s announced settlement of book authors’ class action copyright suit have domino effect on other lawsuits? Reasons yes and no.

After two and a half years since the first lawsuit against AI companies was filed in January 2023, we had in 1 week the first 2 announced settlements (pending court approval). First, the parties in the copyright suit filed by voice actors Vacker against ElevenLabs announced a settlement after mediation (the role of ADR we…
Read more: Will Anthropic’s announced settlement of book authors’ class action copyright suit have domino effect on other lawsuits? Reasons yes and no.
Latest Map of copyright suits v. AI companies. 2 cases tentatively settle. (Aug. 27, 2025).

As the parties in 2 cases (Bartz v. Anthropic and Vacker v. Eleven Labs) announced reaching settlements in principle after respective mediations, the latest updated map of all copyright lawsuits in the US against AI companies looks like this (below). The cases in the red rectangles are the 2 cases in which tentative settlements have…
Read more: Latest Map of copyright suits v. AI companies. 2 cases tentatively settle. (Aug. 27, 2025).
Anthropic, Bartz book authors reach a class settlement. Wow. The dominoes are falling.

BREAKING NEWS: After mediation, Anthropic reaches a settlement with Bartz book authors, including class-wide. It will still need to be approved by Judge Alsup, but that seems very likely. This is now the second settlement announced in the past week in the AI copyright litigation. Which domino will drop next? UPDATE: Judge Alsup immediately signed…
Read more: Anthropic, Bartz book authors reach a class settlement. Wow. The dominoes are falling.
Anthropic reply to Bartz motion to supplement reveals Benjamin Mann thought it was fair use to download LibGen based prior view when he did so at OpenAI

As we expected, Anthropic co-founder Benjamin Mann testified during his deposition that he formed a view that downloading from the LibGen shadow library based on a view that it was fair use he formed when he did so at OpenAI. This should not be surprising. I have traced the history of AI training and use…
Read more: Anthropic reply to Bartz motion to supplement reveals Benjamin Mann thought it was fair use to download LibGen based prior view when he did so at OpenAI
Desperate to avoid “doomsday” statutory damages award, Anthropic battling to stave off waiving its attorney-client privilege regarding pirated books. Hearing set for Aug. 28, 8 am.

Things appear to going from bad to worse for Anthropic in the lawsuit filed by book authors Bartz. Judge Alsup just allowed Bartz to file more evidence to support its contention that Anthropic has impliedly waived its attorney-client privilege regarding legal advice given related to Anthropic’s use of pirated books from shadow libraries. Ominously, Judge…
Read more: Desperate to avoid “doomsday” statutory damages award, Anthropic battling to stave off waiving its attorney-client privilege regarding pirated books. Hearing set for Aug. 28, 8 am.
Anthropic files emergency motion asking 9th Circuit to stay Bartz lawsuit in district court, pending review of Rule 23(f) appeal motion

After Judge Alsup denied its motion to stay the proceedings in the district court in the Bartz lawsuit, Anthropic has filed an emergency motion seeking a stay from the 9th Circuit. Anthropic requests a ruling on this motion by September 2., 2025, which is day after the plaintiffs must submit a list of all the…
Read more: Anthropic files emergency motion asking 9th Circuit to stay Bartz lawsuit in district court, pending review of Rule 23(f) appeal motion