Meta Faces Copyright Lawsuit in France - AI & Publisher Dispute

Meta Sued in France Over AI Copyright Concerns

Meta is currently contending with an AI copyright lawsuit initiated in France. The legal action stems from accusations leveled by authors and publishers, alleging economic “parasitism,” as reported by Reuters.

Details of the French Litigation

The lawsuit was formally submitted in a Paris court earlier this week. It was filed by the National Publishing Union (SNE), the National Union of Authors and Composers (SNAC), and the Society of People of Letters (SGDL). These organizations claim Meta improperly utilized their copyrighted material to train its AI models.

First of its Kind in France

This case is considered the inaugural legal challenge of its nature against a major AI company within France. Meta is simultaneously facing comparable legal proceedings in the United States. These U.S. lawsuits also center on the alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted works for the training of large language models, including Llama.

Accusations of Unlawful Training

According to Reuters, Maia Bensimon, the general delegate of SNAC, stated at a press conference on Wednesday that Meta is responsible for “monumental looting.” Renaud Lefebvre, the director general of the SNE, characterized the publishers’ legal endeavor as a “David versus Goliath battle.”

Meta's Response

Meta has been approached for a statement regarding these allegations. A response is currently awaited.

The core of the dispute revolves around the use of published works and authored content in the development of AI technologies.

• The plaintiffs argue that Meta benefited economically without proper licensing.
• The lawsuit seeks to protect the rights of creators in the age of AI.
• This case could set a precedent for future AI copyright disputes.