The Alliance, along with other leading industry associations representing record labels, music publishers, book publishers and various artist and songwriter groups, filed a new amicus curiae brief in ongoing litigation between Anthropic and three music publishers after the case was transferred from the Middle District of Tennessee to the Northern District of California. Concord Music Group, Inc. v. Anthropic PBC Several major music publishers filed suit in October 2023, accusing Anthropic of copyright infringement and DMCA violation. The plaintiffs sought an injunction requiring Anthropic to build effective safeguards into its model to prevent unauthorized copying of the publishers’ lyrics or publications in the future. The amicus curiae brief supports the plaintiff’s motion, stating that licensing for GAI is possible and that Anthropic’s copying goes well beyond fair use. The brief explains that an injunction seeking to prohibit unauthorized copying in the future would not harm Anthropic. It argues that the motion is in the public interest and would protect the constitutional purpose of copyright and the rights of creators and rightsholders without unduly hindering the advancement of AI.
The call was joined by industry associations including the Recording Industry Association of America, the National Music Publishers’ Association, the Association of American Publishers, the American Association of Independent Music, and the songwriter and artist groups Songwriters of Northern America, Black Music Action Coalition, Music Artists Coalition and Artist Rights Alliance.
Charlotte McBirney is senior counsel and director of public policy at the News/Media Alliance.
