Meta Wins Blockbuster AI Copyright Case—but There’s a Catch
WiredJUN 24
US Judge Tosses Author Lawsuit over Meta AI Training
Above: The Meta AI logo is displayed on a mobile phone. Image copyright: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Techno-optimist narrative
This ruling protects transformative innovation while maintaining clear boundaries. Meta's use of books to train AI creates something fundamentally different from the original works. The judge correctly recognized that fair use allows this transformative process, just like humans learn by reading. Forcing AI companies to pay for every book would cripple groundbreaking technology that benefits everyone.
Techno-skeptic narrative
Big Tech is stealing from creators and getting away with it on technicalities. Meta pirated millions of copyrighted works without permission or payment, then hid behind legal loopholes when caught. The judge even admitted that this piracy is generally illegal, yet ruled in favor of Meta anyway. Authors deserve compensation when their life's work trains billion-dollar AI systems that could replace human creativity.