Source: Altalex

Altalex reports on the growing legal controversy surrounding the training of generative Artificial Intelligence models, specifically focusing on the illicit use of copyrighted literary works. The article examines the legal actions being taken against major tech companies, such as Meta, by authors and publishers who allege that their works have been used without permission to train large language models (LLMs). This practice, often involving the large-scale scraping of digital content, raises fundamental questions about copyright law in the digital age and whether existing legal frameworks are adequate to address the challenges posed by AI.

The core of the legal dispute revolves around whether the use of copyrighted material for training AI constitutes copyright infringement. While tech companies may argue that such use falls under exceptions like "fair use" for purposes of research and innovation, rights holders contend that it is a form of unauthorized reproduction and exploitation of their intellectual property. The article highlights the economic and moral damage claimed by authors, whose creative efforts are being used to build commercial AI products that may one day compete with them. The outcome of these legal battles is expected to have a profound impact on the future development of AI and the protection of creative works.