Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, refutes claims that its AI model Llama used copyrighted material in its training, arguing that it falls under the fair use doctrine. This legal battle against author Sarah Silverman and others highlights the ongoing debate over AI-generated content and copyright infringement.


Meta Defends AI Llama Against Copyright Infringement Claims


Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a legal battle over allegations that its AI model Llama violated copyright by using copyrighted material in its training. Author Sarah Silverman and several other authors have raised concerns about copyright infringement, prompting Meta to respond in court.


In a recent court hearing on September 18, Meta urged a San Francisco federal judge to dismiss the claims made by the authors, asserting that the use of materials to train its AI system is "transformative" and constitutes "fair use."


Meta argued, "Use of texts to train Llama to statistically model language and generate original expression is transformative by nature and quintessential fair use." The company drew parallels with a previous court case involving Google, where wholesale copying of books for an internet search tool was deemed fair use.


Meta contended that the core issue of copyright fair use should be revisited at a later date with a more comprehensive record. The company expressed that the plaintiffs failed to provide clear explanations of the "information" they referred to and specific outputs related to their material.


In response, the attorneys representing the authors expressed confidence that their claims would withstand legal scrutiny and continue through the discovery and trial phases.


This legal dispute is part of a broader trend where tech giants are facing lawsuits related to copyright and data infringement concerning AI technologies. It underscores the ongoing debate about the intersection of AI-generated content and copyright law.


Meta's stance in this case aligns with the broader discussions around fair use and copyright in the context of AI-generated content, highlighting the evolving legal landscape in the digital age.


(SAVANNAH FORTIS, CoinTelegraph, 2023)