French Publishers Sue Meta Over AI Copyright Violations

French publishers sue Meta for allegedly using copyrighted works without permission to train its AI, demanding data removal and compliance with EU copyright laws.

on Mar 13, 2025

French Publishers Sue Meta Over AI Copyright Violations

The National Publishing Union, which comprises book publishers, has said that "several works" from its members are appearing in Meta's data pool

French publishers and writers declared on Wednesday that they're suing Meta for using their works illegally to train the social media firm's artificial intelligence model.

Three industry associations announced that they were taking Meta to court in a Paris court for what they alleged was the firm's "excessive use of copyrighted works without permission" to train its generative AI model.

The National Union of Publishers, representing publishers of books, has observed that "many works" of its members are being found in Meta's data reservoir, the organization's president, Vincent Montagne, stated in a joint release.

Meta did not reply to a request for comment. The company has introduced generative-AI driven chatbot assistants to users of its Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms.

Montagne charged Meta with "noncompliance with copyright and parasitism."

Another organization, the National Union of Authors and Composers, which represents 700 authors, playwrights, and composers, said the lawsuit was needed to safeguard members from "AI which pillages their works and cultural heritage to train itself."

It is also concerned about AI that "produces 'fake books' which compete with real books," the president of the union, Francois Peyrony, said.

The third party in the lawsuit, the Societe des Gens de Lettres, is an association of authors. They too want the "complete removal" of data directories Meta established without permission to train its AI model.

Under the European Union's far-reaching Artificial Intelligence Act, generative AI systems will have to obey the 27-member bloc's copyright legislation and be transparent in the content they use for training.

It's the newest illustration of the battle between the creative and publishing industries and tech companies over data and copyright.

British artists released a silent album last month in protest of the U.K. government's planned reforms to artificial intelligence legislation that artists believe will undermine their creative control.

Media and technology firm Thomson Reuters recently emerged victorious in a court battle with a now-dissolved legal research company over the issue of fair use in copyright cases involving AI, while other cases between visual artists, news outlets, and others are still making their way through U.S. courts.