In a recent court filing, Meta employees discussed methods and ways it could license books and research papers, and it seems they thought these were far too expensive and we lose valuable time in the race to use AI.
Court documents released this month clearly show Meta “really important for [Meta] to get books ASAP,” as “books are actually more important than web data.” It then focused on Library Genesis, or LibGen, a pirated library that circulates online. It currently contains more than 7.5 million books and 81 million research papers. Eventually, the team at Meta got permission from “MZ”—an apparent reference to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg—to download and use the data set.
The breadth of the copying is exhausting and exhilarating. to such an extent that their arrogance reminds me of Bill Hicks and they “carry their balls in a wheelbarrow” sketch. They will probably get away with it unless someone stops them.
What can you do?
Given lawsuits like the one linked in your URL (which deals with AI model training using potentially copyrighted material), that is a very pertinent and significant question.
What Can You Do If Your Book Is Being Copied as a UK Author?
You do have rights and choices, regardless of whether a tech company, another author, or even AI training datasets are stealing your work. This is how it works:
1. In the UK, you automatically own copyright.
- Your book is automatically protected under the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 as soon as it is written and fixed in a tangible form (such as a manuscript or file).
- It is not required to be registered.
- The sole authority to copy, distribute, and modify your work belongs to you.
2. If Someone Is Using or Copying Your Work Without Your Consent:
You are legally justified if:
- They have largely plagiarised your book.
- They have utilised your work for AI training without your consent, which is a developing and ambiguous legal matter.
- They have utilised characters, plots, text, or important wording that is familiar to you.
3. Actionable Steps
A. Write down the Infringement
- Keep track of publication dates, metadata, screenshots, and links.
- If your book was included in a dataset involving AI (such as Meta or OpenAI), make a note of the name and any supporting documentation.
B. Make the Initial Contact (Optional but Strategic)
- Send a takedown notice or cease and desist letter to the other author, publisher, or platform (you can draft this yourself or get legal assistance).
- It is more difficult for AI companies; you might have to file a complaint or join collective actions.
C. Submit a DMCA Takedown Request (Even from the UK)
- Although the DMCA is a US law, UK authors are able to use it against websites or platforms hosted in the US, such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and others.
- You can request that your book be taken down if it is being distributed or sampled without your consent.
D. Contact Me at michael.coyle@lawdit.co.uk
- Especially if your work is part of a larger case or if you’re considering legal action.
- Let’s go for Meta!
What About Meta, OpenAI, and AI Training?
This is the latest frontier.
- It has been alleged that Meta, OpenAI, and others have stolen books and datasets without permission.
- Your book might be among a larger class of affected authors if it was scraped into a training set (such as Books3, ThePile, etc.).
- The United States has already seen lawsuits (e.g., Sarah Silverman et al. vs. OpenAI and Meta).
If you write in the UK, you might be able to:
- Participate in a collective claim (many are being formed). I would love to front one!
- Individual complaints are more difficult and expensive to file.
- Seek advice and assistance from groups like the Society of Authors (UK).
Do You Want to Do Something?
- Verify whether your book is included in a known AI dataset (I can assist; just provide the title and author’s name).
- Think about supporting initiatives like the Society of Authors (UK) and The Authors Guild (US), both of which are fighting against unapproved AI training.
- Keep an eye on UK legal developments as copyright and AI laws are changing quickly.
Michael.Coyle@lawdit.co.uk
