Court filings show Meta paused efforts to license books for AI training

Meta paused licensing for AI training after logistical issues with publishers.

: Court filings reveal Meta paused book licensing talks for AI training in April 2023 due to low publisher engagement and rights issues. Sy Choudhury stated outreach to publishers faced slow uptake and some had no rights to the content. Plaintiffs, including authors like Sarah Silverman, accuse Meta of using pirated e-books for AI training.

Court documentation related to the Kadrey v. Meta Platforms case shows Meta halted efforts to license books for AI training data. Initiatives led by Sy Choudhury faced slow engagement from publishers, and many lacked the rights to the content Meta considered licensing.

Choudhury highlighted logistical challenges, especially in fiction where publishers didn't hold data rights, requiring author engagement for progress. Similar initiatives were paused before, such as acquiring 3D world rights for AI research, resulting in Meta developing in-house solutions.

Plaintiffs, including Sarah Silverman and Ta-Nehisi Coates, repeatedly amended complaints, accusing Meta of using pirated books in AI training. Allegations include Meta using shadow libraries from torrenting activity for its AI models like the Llama series.

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