Microsoft Faces Lawsuit from Authors Over Alleged Use of Pirated Books in AI Training
10 Sources
[1]
Microsoft sued by authors over use of books in AI training
June 25 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab has been hit with a lawsuit by a group of authors who claim the company used their books without permission to train its Megatron artificial intelligence model. Kai Bird, Jia Tolentino, Daniel Okrent and several others alleged that Microsoft
[2]
Group of high-profile authors sue Microsoft over use of their books in AI training
Writers alleged that company used nearly 200,000 pirated books to train its Megatron artificial intelligence A group of authors has accused Microsoft of using nearly 200,000 pirated books to create an artificial intelligence model, the latest allegation in the long legal fight over copyrighted
[3]
Authors take Microsoft to court in yet another AI v copyright battle
The latest complaint comes as Meta and Anthropic both receive legal relief in similar copyright lawsuits. A group of authors have filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, accusing the tech giant of using copyrighted works to train its large language model (LLM). The class action complaint filed by 10
[4]
Microsoft sued by authors over alleged use of 200,000 pirated books to train AI
The upcoming lack of protection can increase the risk of Windows 10 users being hacked and online threats: Microsoft's official end of protection. Microsoft MSFT.O has been hit with a lawsuit by a group of authors who claim the company used their books without permission to train its Megatron
[5]
Microsoft Sued by Authors Over Use of Books in AI Training
Tech firms have argued that they make fair use of copyrighted materials Microsoft has been hit with a lawsuit by a group of authors who claim the company used their books without permission to train its Megatron Artificial Intelligence (AI) model. Kai Bird, Jia Tolentino, Daniel Okrent and
[6]
Microsoft sued by authors over use of books in AI training - The Economic Times
A group of authors sued Microsoft, alleging it used nearly 200,000 pirated books to train its Megatron AI without permission. Filed in New York, the lawsuit seeks damages and a ban on further use. It's part of broader legal challenges facing AI firms over unauthorised training data use.Microsoft
[7]
AI and copyrights: The fight for fair use - The Economic Times
Big tech firms like Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic face lawsuits over using copyrighted books to train AI without permission. Courts are examining "fair use" in AI training, with mixed rulings. Authors demand payment, while companies claim fair use, sparking ongoing legal battles over AI
[8]
Microsoft sued by authors over use of books in AI training
Microsoft has been hit with a lawsuit by a group of authors who claim the company used their books without permission to train its Megatron artificial intelligence model. Kai Bird, Jia Tolentino, Daniel Okrent and several others alleged that Microsoft used pirated digital versions of their books
[9]
Microsoft sued by authors over use of books in AI training
(Reuters) -Microsoft has been hit with a lawsuit by a group of authors who claim the company used their books without permission to train its Megatron artificial intelligence model. Kai Bird, Jia Tolentino, Daniel Okrent and several others alleged that Microsoft used pirated digital versions of
[10]
Microsoft accused of using 2 lakh copyrighted books for AI training: Here's what happened
Case could redefine fair use and reshape how tech giants train AI with written works. The race to dominate the AI sector is constantly evolving, but it seems Microsoft may have taken a few creative shortcuts, and a growing group of authors isn't letting it slide. On June 25, a lawsuit filed in a
Share
Copy Link
A group of authors has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, claiming the company used nearly 200,000 pirated books to train its Megatron AI model without permission, seeking damages and an injunction.
Microsoft Faces Legal Challenge Over AI Training Methods
In a significant development at the intersection of artificial intelligence and copyright law, Microsoft has been hit with a lawsuit by a group of prominent authors. The plaintiffs, including Pulitzer Prize winner Kai Bird and Whiting Award recipient Victor LaVelle, allege that the tech giant used pirated digital versions of their books to train its Megatron artificial intelligence model without permission
1
.
Source: Gadgets 360
The Allegations and Legal Claims
The lawsuit, filed in New York federal court, claims that Microsoft utilized a collection of nearly 200,000 pirated books to train Megatron, an algorithm designed to generate text responses to user prompts. The authors argue that this practice has resulted in an AI model capable of mimicking their writing styles and themes
2
.The complaint states that Microsoft's actions have created a "computer model that is not only built on the work of thousands of creators and authors, but also built to generate a wide range of expression that mimics the syntax, voice, and themes of the copyrighted works on which it was trained"
3
.Legal Remedies Sought
The plaintiffs are seeking substantial damages, requesting up to $150,000 for each work allegedly misused by Microsoft. Additionally, they are pursuing a court order to block further infringement by the company
4
.Broader Context of AI and Copyright
This lawsuit is part of a larger trend of legal challenges brought by authors, news outlets, and other copyright holders against tech companies, including Meta Platforms, Anthropic, and OpenAI. These cases center on the alleged misuse of copyrighted material in AI training
5
.
Source: ET
Recent Legal Precedents
The Microsoft case follows closely on the heels of two significant rulings in similar disputes:
-
A California federal judge ruled that Anthropic's use of authors' material to train its AI systems constituted fair use under U.S. copyright law, though the company may still face liability for pirating books.
-
In a separate case, a judge ruled in favor of Meta, finding that its use of copyrighted books to train AI models was "transformative" and fell under fair use
2
.
Related Stories
Tech Industry's Stance
Tech companies have consistently argued that their use of copyrighted material falls under fair use, asserting that they create new, transformative content. They contend that being required to pay copyright holders could significantly impede the growth of the AI industry
1
.
Source: ET
Implications for the AI Industry
This lawsuit against Microsoft, along with similar cases, highlights the ongoing tension between technological innovation and intellectual property rights. The outcome of these legal battles could have far-reaching implications for the development and deployment of AI technologies, potentially reshaping how companies approach AI training and data acquisition
3
.References
Summarized by
Navi
[3]
[5]
Related Stories
400 Newspapers Sue OpenAI and Microsoft as Copyright Battle Over AI Training Intensifies
25 Jun 2026•Policy and Regulation
John Carreyrou Sues Six AI Companies Over Unauthorized Use of Copyrighted Books for Training
23 Dec 2025•Policy and Regulation
Apple Faces Copyright Lawsuit Over AI Training with Pirated Books
06 Sept 2025•Technology
Recent Highlights
1
AI Hallucination Nearly Sparked US Military Confrontation With Chinese Ship in Middle East
Technology
2
OpenAI AI Agent Hacks Australian Government Healthcare Website in First-of-Its-Kind Breach
Technology
3
AI leaders warn UN Security Council of existential risks to humanity, call for global safeguards
Policy and Regulation
Recent Highlights
Today's Top Stories
Don’t drown in AI news. We cut through the noise - filtering, ranking and summarizing the most important AI news, breakthroughs and research daily. Follow topics that matter to you and stay ahead.
