+++ Authors Guild Sues OpenAI Over Systematic Copyright Infringement
+++ Metabyte Sues Meta Platforms FKA Facebook Over “Meta” Trademark
+++ Family Sues Alphabet After Man Died Following Google Maps Directions
+++ Court Dismisses Tiger King Tattoo Lawsuit Against Netflix Over Alleged Copyright Infringement
Authors Guild Sues OpenAI Over Systematic Copyright Infringement
The Authors Guild, representing prominent authors like George R.R. Martin, Jonathan Franzen, and John Grisham, has sued OpenAI for using their novels and original work to train ChatGPT without their permission or license. The authors claim that OpenAI has created infringing works that can summarize, analyze, and generate derivative works based on their novels, competing with their original works. The lawsuit is the third one against OpenAI over this issue, following similar suits by authors Paul Tremblay and Sarah Silverman. The authors argue that OpenAI obtained the novels from illegal online libraries and that ChatGPT facilitates the creation of infringing fan fiction by businesses and users. The authors seek an injunction and damages from OpenAI.
Read the full report on The New York Times.
Read the full report on The Hollywood Reporter.
Read the case Jonathan Franzen, John Grisham, George R.R. Martin, Jodi Picoult, George Saunders et alia v. OpenAI, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 1:23-cv-08292.
Metabyte Sues Meta Platforms FKA Facebook Over “Meta” Trademark
Metabyte, a California-based company that provides staffing and tech services, has filed a trademark lawsuit against Meta Platforms, the new name of Facebook. Metabyte claims that it has been using its name since 1993 and has registered trademarks for it since 2014. It argues that Meta Platforms’ name change and rebranding will confuse consumers, as both companies offer related services and cover overlapping geographic areas. Metabyte seeks to stop Meta Platforms from using the name Meta and asks for damages and profits from the alleged infringement. The lawsuit comes after the two companies failed to reach an agreement on coexisting with their respective names.
Read the full report on Reuters.
Read the case Metabyte Inc v. Meta Platforms Inc, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 4:23-cv-04862.
Family Sues Alphabet After Man Died Following Google Maps Directions
The family of a North Carolina man who tragically drove off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions is suing Google for negligence. The bridge had collapsed nine years earlier. Philip Paxson died in September 2022 after his car plunged 20 feet into a washed-out creek. His family claims Google was aware of the bridge’s condition but failed to update its navigation system. Despite numerous warnings from the public, Google allegedly did not take action to correct the route information. The lawsuit names several private property management companies as responsible for the bridge, which had not been maintained or properly barricaded for years.
Read the full report on Associated Press.
Read the full report on Ars Technica.
Read the case Paxson v. Google, Superior Court of the State of North Carolina for the County of Wake, No. 23CV026335-910.
Court Dismisses Tiger King Tattoo Lawsuit Against Netflix Over Alleged Copyright Infringement
A federal judge has ruled that Netflix did not infringe the copyright of a tattoo artist who claimed that the streaming service used his photo of a tiger tattoo without his permission in the documentary series “Tiger King”. The judge found that Netflix had a fair use defense because the photo was used for a transformative purpose and did not harm the market value of the original work. The judge also dismissed the artist’s claims of false designation of origin and unfair competition.
Read the full report on Law.com.
Read the case Cramer v. Netflix et al, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, No. 3:22-cv-00131-SLH.
More Headlines
- Copyright Law: “Musicians are eyeing a legal shortcut to fight AI voice clones” (by The Verge)
- Data Privacy: “Papa John’s Defeats Suit Over Session Replay Software on Website” (by Bloomberg Law)
- Data Privacy: “Hunter Biden files lawsuit against IRS alleging privacy violations” (by CBS News)
- Data Privacy: “Poland investigates OpenAI over privacy concerns” (by Reuters)
- Legal Practice: “Break the Law or Leave No Record, California Courts Face Dilemma” (by Bloomberg Law)
- Antitrust Law: “Microsoft, Google and Antitrust: Similar Legal Theories in a Different Era” (by New York Times)
In Other News (or publications you should read)
- Richard Allen’s regulate.tech blog: How to regulate the internet without breaking it
- Benjamin Wittes, Robert Chesney, Jack Goldsmith’s lawfare: Hard national security choices
- Julie Zerbo’s the fashion law (TFL)
- Justin Hendrix’ tech policy press: technology and democracy.
- Eugene Volokh: The Volokh Conspiracy
This post originated from my publication Codifying Chaos.