Anthropic settlement over book training: what changes

Introduction

The Anthropic settlement on book training concerns the company's use of books to train large language models and raises practical questions about copyright and liability.

Quick definition: the settlement resolves a class action alleging improper use of books in LLM training by Anthropic

Context: the Anthropic settlement

The case Bartz v. Anthropic focused on Anthropic's use of books, including pirated titles, as training data. A lower court found the use qualified as fair use for building language models, but the presence of pirated works left room for financial penalties. Anthropic appealed and subsequently reached a settlement with the authors; settlement terms have not been disclosed publicly.

"We believe it’s clear that we acquired books for one purpose only — building large language models — and the court clearly held that use was fair."

Anthropic spokesperson (statement reported)

The problem / Challenge

The core issue balances fair use for model development against liability when training corpora include pirated or improperly sourced materials. Even if courts recognize fair use, companies may still face penalties tied to the unlawful acquisition of data.

Practical implications

Authors, publishers and AI firms should note:

• Heightened risk of class actions and the need for provenance checks
• Increased pressure on vendors to disclose sourcing and licensing
• Potential updates to compliance workflows and contractual terms with data providers

"This historic settlement will benefit all class members"

Justin Nelson, plaintiffs' counsel

Solution / Recommended approach

To mitigate legal and reputational risks, organizations should:

1. Perform provenance audits on training corpora
2. Require licensing assurances from data vendors
3. Use data curation and filters to exclude unauthorized material
4. Prepare stakeholder communications addressing rights and remedies

Conclusion

The Anthropic settlement is a significant milestone that highlights the need for transparent data acquisition practices in LLM development; without public terms, it nevertheless signals stronger expectations on provenance and compliance.

FAQ

Short answer: the Anthropic settlement resolves claims about using books in LLM training; terms have not been disclosed.

• What is the Anthropic settlement on book training?

  It is a legal settlement between Anthropic and a group of authors over the company's use of books for model training; specific terms remain private.

• Does the Anthropic settlement confirm book use as fair use?

  A lower court found the use could qualify as fair use, but the settlement and the involvement of pirated works mean legal uncertainty remains.

• What practical steps should AI companies take after the Anthropic settlement?

  Implement data provenance audits, require licensing warranties from suppliers, and adopt curation policies to avoid unauthorized content.

• How should authors respond to the Anthropic settlement?

  Authors should track official announcements, assert rights when misuse is suspected, and consider rights-management tools to monitor distribution.