On May 5, 2026, major publishers including Elsevier, Cengage, Hachette, Macmillan, and McGraw Hill filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms in Manhattan federal court. The lawsuit claims Meta exploited their works without authorization to train its AI model Llama.
The plaintiffs allege that Meta pirated millions of their works, including textbooks and scientific articles. They seek unspecified damages and permission to represent a larger group of rights holders.
This lawsuit opens a new front in the legal battle between creators and tech companies over AI training. Maria Pallante, representing the plaintiffs, stated, “The large-scale infringement committed by Meta does not constitute public progress.”
In a separate matter, Charles Alloncle faces accusations from AC !! Anti-Corruption regarding ‘illegal taking of interests’ and ‘influence peddling’. The complaint against Alloncle was sent to the current financial prosecutor, Pascal Prache.
The illegal taking of interests charge could lead to a five-year prison sentence and a €500,000 fine. Jérôme Karsenti remarked on the urgency of the complaint, noting a feeling of absolute impunity regarding Alloncle’s actions.
Alloncle has denied the allegations, claiming they are aimed at discrediting his work. He stated, “These accusations are ridiculous aimed at discrediting all my work.”
As these legal battles unfold, both cases underscore the complexities surrounding copyright law in the age of AI. The outcomes could set important precedents for intellectual property rights in digital spaces.
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