Today's Read Team French Publishers and Authors File Lawsuit Against Meta for Copyright Infringement
In a significant legal move, leading French publishers, authors, and composers have initiated a lawsuit against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, in Paris. This action alleges that Meta has misappropriated copyrighted works without proper authorization from the creators or their respective publishers to enhance its generative artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
Organizations Involved in the Legal Action
This lawsuit is a collaborative effort spearheaded by key industry organizations:
- The Syndicat national de l’édition (SNE), representing publishers.
- The Société des Gens de Lettres (SGDL), which advocates for authors.
- The Syndicat national des auteurs et des compositeurs (SNA), encompassing both authors and composers.
Statements from Industry Leaders
Vincent Montagne, the president of SNE, emphasized the urgency of the situation by stating, “We are taking action on the basis of fundamental principles. It is inconceivable to create an AI market to the detriment of the cultural sector.” He highlighted the necessity of upholding creators’ rights in the digital age.
Similarly, Christophe Hardy, president of the SGDL, stressed the importance of respecting copyright laws and ensuring proper compensation for the usage of creative works. Hardy stated that this is crucial for “preserving a fragile ecosystem which owes its richness to editorial diversity.” François Peyrony, president of the SNA, further underscored the need to safeguard authors from AI-generated books that may undermine the market for genuine literary works.
Regulatory Context
The lawsuit also aligns with the provisions of the European AI Act, which mandates that AI companies respect copyright laws and transparently disclose the sources of material used in the development of foundational AI models. This legislative framework aims to protect intellectual property rights in an evolving technological landscape.
A Collaborative Initiative for Intellectual Property Protection
During the AI Summit held in Paris from February 6 to 11, 2023, representatives from 38 international organizations across various creative and cultural sectors united to publish a charter focused on culture and innovation. This charter is designed to address the challenges posed by AI technologies to copyright protections.
Meta’s Response
As of now, Meta has been approached for a response regarding the lawsuit but has not publicly commented on the situation.
