Meta Faces Lawsuit in France Over AI Copyright Infringement Allegations

Editor’s Note: In an important legal challenge, major French publishing associations have filed a lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc., accusing the tech giant of unauthorized use of copyrighted literary works to train its AI models. The case, brought before the Paris Judicial Court, underscores growing tensions between AI development and intellectual property rights. With allegations of copyright infringement and economic parasitism, the lawsuit not only seeks to protect France’s literary heritage but also signals broader regulatory implications, particularly in light of the EU’s AI Act. As AI-driven content generation continues to evolve, this legal action could shape the future of ethical AI training and copyright enforcement across Europe.

Industry News – Artificial Intelligence Beat

Meta Faces Lawsuit in France Over AI Copyright Infringement Allegations

ComplexDiscovery Staff

In a significant legal action, several French publishing associations have initiated litigation against Meta Platforms Inc. in the Paris Judicial Court. The lawsuit accuses Meta of systematically utilizing copyrighted literary works without authorization to train its generative artificial intelligence models, constituting violations of Article L.122-4 of the French Intellectual Property Code (which prohibits unauthorized reproduction of protected works). Additionally, plaintiffs allege economic parasitism (a French legal doctrine penalizing unfair commercial exploitation of another’s investments or creations), arguing Meta improperly profited from the unauthorized use of these copyrighted materials.

The complaint was jointly filed by leading French cultural organizations, including the National Publishing Union (SNE), the Société des Gens de Lettres (SGDL), and the National Union of Authors and Composers (SNAC). These entities represent substantial segments of France’s publishing and literary communities. Their primary objectives include seeking the cessation of unauthorized data usage, the removal of their content from AI training datasets, and enhanced legal protections. Although financial compensation has not yet been explicitly prioritized, plaintiffs emphasize securing the cultural and economic interests of authors and publishers as critical.

Vincent Montagne, President of SNE, emphasized the associations’ collective stance, stating that the development of an AI market should not come at the expense of cultural integrity. Montagne expressed particular concern over the unauthorized siphoning of literary content, noting its profound financial and creative implications for authors and editors alike.

While the lawsuit focuses primarily on copyright infringement and economic parasitism, it indirectly engages broader regulatory considerations introduced by the European Union’s AI Act, effective since August 2024. Although the AI Act is not directly invoked in the suit, its provisions on transparency—specifically Article 52b, which mandates the disclosure of AI-generated content and summaries of copyrighted data used—are contextually relevant. Legal analysts suggest adherence to such transparency requirements by companies like Meta could potentially preempt similar future litigation.

François Peyrony, President of SNAC, highlighted further risks associated with generative AI, including the possibility of AI-generated “fake books” that undermine genuine works and their creators. Peyrony emphasized the existential threat posed by these practices, calling for stringent legal protections.

Meta has yet to issue a formal public response, though industry insiders speculate the company may leverage arguments akin to “fair use,” a common defense in jurisdictions such as the United States. However, such arguments are inapplicable under French intellectual property law, complicating Meta’s potential defense strategy.

The current French lawsuit against Meta parallels other global legal actions, such as the notable Silverman v. OpenAI case in the United States, which addresses similar concerns of unauthorized use of authors’ works for AI training. Additionally, Meta previously faced litigation in the U.S. related to training data used in its AI model, Llama, emphasizing a history of scrutiny regarding its AI training methodologies.

This lawsuit could have significant implications, potentially influencing EU-wide regulatory practices due to France’s active role in shaping intellectual property laws and technology governance. The outcome may set essential legal precedents for ethical data sourcing, intellectual property protection, and responsible AI development.

As this case progresses, it underscores the critical need for a balanced regulatory framework that adequately safeguards content creators while fostering technological innovation. Stakeholders, regulators, and content creators alike are closely monitoring the proceedings, recognizing the potential of this lawsuit to establish significant precedents in AI governance and copyright protection within Europe and internationally.

News Sources

• France creative sector brings copyright action against Meta under EU AI Act (JURIST – News)
• French publishers and authors file lawsuit against Meta in AI case (YAHOO! Finance)
• Meta Hit with Publisher Copyright Lawsuit in France Over AI Data Use (TECHi)
• Meta Faces Another Lawsuit for Using Copyright-Protected Works To Train Its AI Models (Social Media Today)
• Meta’s AI a Threat to Publishers? French Lawsuit Raises Questions (Analytics Insight)

Assisted by GAI and LLM Technologies

Additional Reading

• From Longbows To AI: Lessons In Embracing Technology
• Judges and AI: The Sedona Conference Publishes a Framework for Responsible Use

Source: ComplexDiscovery OÜ