A group of major publishers and author Scott Turow have filed a federal lawsuit in New York accusing Google of illegally using millions of copyrighted books to build its Gemini AI models.
Key facts
- Publishers filed a copyright lawsuit against Google in federal court in New York.
- The suit involves Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, and Elsevier, plus author Scott Turow.
- Plaintiffs allege Google used millions of copyrighted books to train its Gemini AI models.
- The complaint calls it 'one of the most prolific infringements of copyrighted materials in history.'
A group of major book publishers has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the technology company of illegally using millions of copyrighted books to help build its Gemini artificial intelligence models, according to the Guardian.
The complaint characterises the alleged conduct as “one of the most prolific infringements of copyrighted materials in history,” the Guardian reported.
The case was filed in federal court in New York. It has been brought by three publishers – Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, and Elsevier – along with bestselling American author Scott Turow, according to the Guardian.
The lawsuit centres on how Google trained its Gemini AI models, with the plaintiffs alleging that copyrighted works were used without authorisation. The Guardian’s report identifies the core dispute as the use of millions of copyrighted books in that training process.
The filing brings together commercial trade and educational publishers alongside an individual author, reflecting a coalition of interests in the publishing industry. Beyond the details reported by the Guardian, further specifics of the claims and any response from Google were not included in the available source.
Why it matters
The case adds to a growing wave of legal challenges over how technology companies use copyrighted material to train artificial intelligence systems. Its outcome could shape how AI developers source training data and how authors and publishers are compensated for their work.
Frequently asked questions
Who filed the lawsuit against Google?
According to the Guardian, the suit was brought by three publishers – Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, and Elsevier – along with bestselling American author Scott Turow.
What is Google accused of doing?
The plaintiffs accuse Google of illegally using millions of copyrighted books to help build its Gemini AI models, describing it as 'one of the most prolific infringements of copyrighted materials in history,' the Guardian reported.
Where was the case filed?
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York, according to the Guardian.