In a potentially significant development for intellectual property rights in the age of artificial intelligence, esteemed authors Ta-Nehisi Coates, Andrew Sean Greer, and Jacqueline Woodson, among others, have become involved in two proposed class actions. The cases, filed in California federal court, target Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook) and AI research lab OpenAI, alleging the unauthorized use of copyrighted works to “train” their AI products.
The acclaimed Coates is a respected journalist and writer, while Greer is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Woodson, another influential voice in the literary world, is a National Book Award recipient. Their collective grievance stems from the belief that the digital corporations have infringed their intellectual property rights.
The specifics of the cases remain under wraps due to limited exposure, but the importance of these actions cannot be overstated. With AI technology rapidly becoming a fundamental part of our lives, the ethical and legal parameters of its development are pressing topics. This situation only stresses the urgency with which lawmakers and technology developers must confront the complexity and repercussions of AI technology.”
The full extent of the authors’ allegations, and how the defendants, Meta Platforms and OpenAI, respond remains to be seen. For a detailed look at the original legal filing, it is available on Law360.com.